Evaluation of Inner Ear and Hearing Functions in Lichen Planus Patients.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nLichen planus (LP), which affects skin, nails, hair, and mucosal surfaces, is a chronic, autoimmune, andinflammatorydisease, and autoimmune diseases may affect the inner ear. This studyaims to investigate hearing and inner ear functions of the LP patients.\n\n\nMATERIAL AND METHODS\nThe present study was formed by 49 patients who were clinically and histopathologically diagnosed with LP and did not receive any treatment. The healthy group consisted of 52 healthy individuals. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) and distortion product otoacoustic emission tests were used in the hearing evaluation.\n\n\nRESULTS\nAt frequencies of 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kHz in the right ear and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kHz in the left ear in PTA, the lichen group s hearing thresholds were higher than the healthy group s.Upon comparing the hearing thresholds of LP patients with oral mucosa involvement and LP patients without oral mucosa involvement, there were significant differences between the groups at 1, 4, and 8 kHz in the right ear and at 0.25, 0.5, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kHz inthe left ear.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nBecause of the increasing hearing thresholds,we think that hearing and inner ear functions of LP patients, particularly with oral mucosal involvement, are negatively affected.