Evaluation of cochlear functions in infants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 intrauterine

Abstract

Purpose The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) caused an acute respiratory illness named COVID-19 and the disease spread all over the World. Fever, cough, fatigue, gastrointestinal infection symptoms form the main clinical symptoms. Pregnants and newborns form a vulnerable population and urgent measures must be addressed. Studies about the effect of COVID-19 on pregnant women, developing fetuses, and infants are limited. Various viral diseases can cause congenital or acquired, unilateral or bilateral hearing loss. Methods 37 infants whose mother was pregnant between March 2020 and December 2020 and were born after the diagnosis of COVID- 19 during pregnancy and 36 healthy infants were included in the study. Transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE), distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and contralateral suppression of OAE (CLS OAE) tests were performed on all infants. Results According to the TEOAE results of patients and controls in the silent a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups at 3 kHz and 4 kHz ( p < 0.05). Contralateral suppression of OAE test results of patients and controls a statistically significant difference was found in all frequencies (p < 0.05). Suppression was much more effective at all frequencies in the normal group than patient group. This difference was found to be more significant at higher frequencies (2,3 and 4 kHz) ( p < 0.001). Conclusions Our results suggest an insufficiency in medial olivocochlear efferent system in infants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 intrauterine. Cochlear functions should be examined in infants whose mothers had COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and audio-vestibular disorders

“…8 The hypothesis of a possible direct damage to the cochlear hair cell has been supported by studies reporting a reduced amplitude of transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in infected adults and even in newborn patients exposed to SARS-CoV-2 intrauterinely. 36,37 Some Authors have advocated a potential inflammatory involvement of inner ear vessels or of the stria vascularis (eventually causing vasculitis or endothelitis), since its highly vulnerability to hypoxic damage. 38 In fact, brain microhaemorrhages have been reported to be another peculiar sign of COVID-19 infection.…”

“…Other proposed etiopathogenetic mechanisms have been related to (i) the presence of a persistent inflammatory status with the production of proinflammatory cytokines that may hamper the inner ear functions 36 ; and (ii) to the concomitant onset of an autoimmune response, such as granulomatosis with polyangiitis. 40 Drawbacks.…”

“…The hypothesis of a possible direct damage to the cochlear hair cell has been supported by studies reporting a reduced amplitude of transient otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in infected adults and even in newborn patients exposed to SARS-CoV-2 intrauterinely. 36 , 37 …”

Auditory Disturbances and SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Brain Inflammation or Cochlear Affection? Systematic Review and Discussion of Potential Pathogenesis

“…Alves de Sousa et al (33) in a prospective study showed that patients with light forms of COVID-19 had worse auditory The authors found statistically significant differences between TEOAEs (3,000 and 4,000 Hz) of infants exposed to COVID-19 infection during pregnancy compared to the ones of nonexposed newborns. Analyzing the results of CLS OAE, the authors observed similar significant statistical differences in all auditory frequencies (more significant at high frequencies) (35). Mustafa et al used TEOAE to evaluate the hearing function in a cohort of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients; their results were compared to those of non-infected subjects.…”

“…Seven full-text articles were identified (27,(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)38) (Table 3). They included four prospective studies, one retrospective study, one case series, and one case report.…”