Effect of HIV and Antiretroviral Treatment on Auditory Functions

Abstract

Introduction Numerous studies have evaluated auditory functions in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients; however, these studies had a few major limitations in terms of methodology as they used mainly evoked audiometry although this method is expensive, time consuming and not widely available. Therefore, we conducted a study in naïve HIV subjects with routine audiometry. Objective To determine the effect of HIV and of the drugs used to treat it on the auditory functions. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted in a medical college with 25 naive HIV-seropositive patients for over a year. Pure tone audiometry (250–8,000 Hz) and CD4 T-lymphocyte count were performed at the time of enrollment and 6 months after commencement of highly active antiretroviral treatment. Results The subjects had increased hearing thresholds at high frequencies (4 KHz and 8KHz) in both ears at the time of enrollment that persisted at the same level (p > 0.05) on follow-up at 6 months. None of the subjects had any other otological symptom during the 6 months of observation. Seven subjects had sensorineural hearing loss in one or both ears at 0 and 6 months. These observations did not show any significant difference on Wilcoxon-signed-rank test. Spearman correlation did not find a significant correlation (p > 0.05) between CD4 T-lymphocyte counts and pure tone audiometry during the study. Conclusion We found high-frequency hearing loss in all subjects with no relation with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and severity of the disease. This study advocates hearing assessment with pure tone audiometry in HIV subjects so that intervention can be initiated in a timely manner.

Determinants of the Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo): A Prospective Cohort Study

“…The exposure to the treatment for more than one month, the AG-based regimen, age ≥ 40 years, hypoalbuminemia, and CKD were identified as the main determinants of the hearing loss among the patients with MDR-TB. These data are consistent with those reported in the literature [4] In this study, a positive HIV serology and a BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2 were not associated with the hearing loss in the patients with MDR-TB, although HIV manifests tropism for the auditory nerve and the ototoxicity exacerbated by antiretroviral drugs [40]. Some authors have demonstrated that a BMI of < 18.5 kg/m 2 before the initiation of the treatment and a positive HIV serology are strongly Int.…”

Main Aspects of Peripheral and Central Hearing System Involvement in Unexplained HIV-Related Hearing Complaints

“…A variety of studies have hypothesized that HIV, while present in the CNS, has its direct effect on the vestibular and cochlear system as well as more central auditory processing pathways (13, 27, 28). As demonstrated by Matas et al and Maro et al MLR latencies and gap detection thresholds were prolonged as a measurement for central auditory processing (2, 13).…”

The duration of antiretrovirals administration and hearing impairment in HIV-infected patients

“…This observation did not show a significant difference. 7 In this study, age factor affected hearing loss in HIVinfected patients who received ARVs (p=0.023). Patients in the group 19 to <35 years old had a three times higher risk of developing hearing loss (RP: 3.818).…”