Summary.
Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) is an inflammatory condition of the inner ear. It occurs when the body's immune system attacks cells in the inner ear that are mistaken for a virus or bacteria. AIED is a rare disease occurring in less than one percent of the 28 million Americans with a hearing loss.
Cogan syndrome is characterized by recurrent ocular inflammation as well as hearing loss that can lead to deafness if left untreated. Systemic involvement can be seen in up to 80% of patients.
Neuromyelitis optica is an autoimmune disorder that affects the nerves of the eyes and the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system malfunctions and attacks the body's own tissues and organs.
Some examples of autoimmune disorders that have presented with AIED are Cogan's syndrome, relapsing polychondritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, polyarteritis nodosa, Sjogren's syndrome, and Lyme disease.
Conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are linked to hearing loss and tinnitus. Did you know hearing loss can be related to an underlying condition—not simply age or noise exposure? When this happens, the condition is often an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or lupus.
Approximately one-fourth patients suffers from high frequency hearing loss of cochlear origin, as detected by impedance audiometry or auditory brainstem procedures.
Autoimmune Disorders: Eye doctors can often detect signs of autoimmune diseases. For example, inflamed eyes are a sign of Lupus or another autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Cancer: Different types of cancer can be detected during comprehensive eye exams.
Due to decreased tear production, your eyes may feel extremely dry. They may also itch or burn, leading to excessive blinking. It may feel like grains of sand are lodged in your eyes. Or they may be red or watery, and you may have blurred vision or be sensitive to bright or fluorescent lights.
To diagnose AIED, your doctor will ask questions about your health and medical history, do a physical exam, and give you a hearing test. They'll also test your balance, which can show how well your inner ear is "talking" to your brain. You might also have blood work done.
These symptoms might be related to infections within the sinus is or within the ear canals. Pain when moving the eyes can also occur as a result of an injury to the eye. Pay attention to all your symptoms and take note when they occur.
Meniere's disease is an inner ear problem that can cause dizzy spells, also called vertigo, and hearing loss. Most of the time, Meniere's disease affects only one ear. Meniere's disease can happen at any age. But it usually starts between the ages of 40 to 60.
Cochlear hydrops: affects balance of the inner ear. Meniere's disease: disorder of the inner ear. Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome (SSCD): thinning or absent temporal bone of the inner ear. Vestibular neuronitis: inflammation of the inner ear.
How can lupus cause ear and hearing disorders? Vasculitis: Vasculitis is the leading cause of ear and hearing disorders in lupus. The vessels of your ears can fill with autoimmune complexes (antigen-antibody groups) and these cause inflammation of the ear's tiny blood vessels.
Diagnosis of Sjögren's Syndrome
A rheumatologist (a specialist in autoimmune diseases) may diagnose the disease. However, an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) or a dentist may also perform certain tests to help make the diagnosis.
Your optician may perform a number of tests to confirm a diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome. In one common test (called a Schirmer's test), the tip of a small strip of test paper is inserted under your lower eyelid to measure the amount of tears you produce over a certain period of time (usually five minutes).
Uveitis happens when the eye becomes red and swollen (inflamed). Inflammation is the body's response to illness or infection. Most cases of uveitis are linked to a problem with the immune system (the body's defence against infection and illness). Rarely, uveitis may happen without the eye becoming red or swollen.
Cogan syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease that affects the eyes and inner ears. Symptoms of the syndrome include irritation and pain in the eyes, decreased vision, hearing loss, and vertigo. Other symptoms may include joint or muscle pain or inflammation of the blood vessels.
Optic Neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve. Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus are two of the more common autoimmune disorders that can affect the optic nerve. Patients with this condition typically have pain with eye movement, blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, and aren't able to see colors accurately.
Joint pain is one of the most common symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome. Multiple joints are painful, usually episodically with periods of joint pain, known as “flares”, followed by periods of little or no joint pain. Tenderness and swelling of the joints, when present, are indicative of inflammatory arthritis.
Sjögren's syndrome can cause nerve damage which regulates the coordination of heartbeat, respiration, and gastric motility. This is called an “autonomic neuropathy.” Examples of symptoms include lightheadedness when standing, decreased or increased sweating, and feeling full despite eating small meals.