PEDIATRICS Vol. 75 No. 6 June 1985, pp. 1020-1027
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Sudden Hearing Loss Following Infectious Mononucleosis: Possible Effect of Altered Immunoregulation

Lowell L. Williams MD1, Howard W. Lowery MD, FACS1, and Ronald Glaser PhD1

1 The Departments of Pediatrics, Otolaryngology, Medical Microbiology, and Immunology, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus

Sudden, permanent hearing loss developed in three young patients. In an attempt to determine a viral etiology, their humoral and cell-mediated responses to a panel of seven viruses linked to deafness and altered immunity were measured. Although a specific viral cause was not determined, a mild Epstein-Barr virus infection was documented for each patient. It had preceded their hearing loss onset by 1 to 4 months. Evidence of altered cell-mediated responses to Epstein-Barr virus antigens was found in each patient. It is proposed that, in certain susceptible individuals, a temporary cellular immunosuppression, which accompanies normal recovery from Epstein-Barr virus infection, may provide an opportunity for a viral invasion of, or a latent viral reactivation in, the inner ear. This invasion or reactivation leads to deafness.

Key Words: hearing loss • infectious mononucleosis • immunoregulation • latent virus

Submitted on April 6, 1984
Accepted on June 18, 1984




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