Audiovestibular functions in chronic kidney disease in relation to haemodialysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nSeveral studies have reported that the audiovestibular system is affected in patients with chronic kidney disease.\n\n\nOBJECTIVE\nThis study aimed to investigate how the audiovestibular system is affected in patients with various stages of chronic kidney disease.\n\n\nMETHODS\nSixty participants were divided into three groups: group 1 - controls; group 2 - chronic kidney disease patients receiving conservative treatment; and group 3 - chronic kidney disease patients undergoing regular haemodialysis. Assessments included: standard and high-frequency audiometry and otoacoustic emissions testing, oculomotor tests, and combined vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials testing.\n\n\nRESULTS\nFifty per cent of group 2 and 60 per cent of group 3 had bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. High-frequency pure tone audiometry showed reduced detectability and higher thresholds at 12 kHz and 16 kHz in patients than in controls. Otoacoustic emissions, tracking, optokinetic and combined vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests showed abnormal results in chronic kidney disease cases.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nBoth the auditory and vestibular pathways are affected in different stages of chronic kidney disease. High-frequency pure tone audiometry, otoacoustic emissions and combined vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials could be performed routinely in patients with chronic kidney disease, regardless of the disease stage.