Background: Nephrotic syndrome is a chronic disease characterized by alterations of permeability in the glomeruli. Some developmental pathways are shared by the kidney and the ear. Both of them involve physiological mechanisms necessary for normal function.
Objectives: to assess the occurrence of hearing loss in children with nephrotic syndrome and determine risk factors leading to hearing impairment for early diagnosis and intervention.
Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 children with positive clinical symptoms of nephrotic syndrome attending Audio-vestibular Unit at Qena University Hospital. Basic audiological evaluation was done including Acoustic immittance testing, pure tone and speech audiometry as well as otoacoustic emission.
Results: 18% of cases had hearing loss (15% sensorineural, 2% conductive and 1% mixed). By using transient evoked otoacoustic emission, One hundred thirty-three ears (66 right and 67 left) recorded a Pass and thirty-one ears (16 right and 15 left) recorded a Partial Pass in patients with normal hearing. However, Twenty-eight ears (14 right and 14 left) had a Partial Pass while two ears (1 right and 1 left) had a Fail in patients suffering from sensorineural hearing loss.
Conclusion: Hearing loss is associated with nephrotic syndrome as 18% of nephrotic syndrome patients had hearing loss with speech discrimination scores of 90 (± 3) in right ear and 89 (± 3) in left ear.