Deafness due to Waldenstrom macroglobulinaemia

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia presenting with bilateral vestibular loss: a case report

“…In contrast with most of the literature in which hearing loss usually prevails on vestibular symptoms in patients affected by WM, 5 , 7 in the present case cochlear function was partially spared by hypoxia, with only a bilateral high-frequency hearing impairment.…”

“…A direction-changing positional nystagmus has been explained through the effect of heavy globulins on the cupulae of the canals, resulting in a buoyancy mechanism. 6 Conversely, hearing loss and various levels of vestibular impairment have been related to different pathologic processes occurring in WM, such as multiple hemorrhagic phenomena, 7 small vessel thrombosis secondary to sudden release of clotting factors, 5 and increased blood viscosity resulting in the obstruction of labyrinthine small vessels. 8 Moreover, some reports have also described a symptomatic improvement with a reduction of blood hyperviscosity, mainly after plasmapheresis.…”

Hearing Loss in a Patient with Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Receiving Bortezomib

“…WM was considered as a possible cause of the patient's hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss secondary to WM is rare and has been described in fewer than ten case reports [1][2][3][4][5][6]. In these cases, the hearing loss is typically sudden (unilateral or bilateral).…”

Bilateral Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia: Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…The presentation of sudden SNHL in patients with WM is rare, and the etiology is unclear. The first report published on a patient with WM and sudden bilateral SNHL by Afifi and Tawfeek proposed a hemorrhagic etiology, 10 based on the observation of an abnormal coagulation profile with prolonged bleeding time. This was also illustrated in a temporal bone biopsy in one of the cases by Wells et al 11 Subsequent reports of the hearing loss in WM have attributed blood hyperviscosity and clot formation as a more likely etiology.…”