Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) can be manifested by audiological and vestibular complaints. The aim of the present study is to determine the audio-vestibular pathologies and their pathophysiologies in this syndrome by performing current audio-vestibular tests.The study was performed prospectively on 40 individuals (20 IIH patients, 20 healthy volunteers). Pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, and electronystagmography tests were performed in both groups and the results were compared.The mean age of both groups was found to be 30.2±18.7. There were 11 females and 9 males in each group. The study group patients had significantly worse hearing levels. Pure tone averages were significantly higher in both ears of the study group (p<0.05). Ten patients (50%) in the study group and one healthy volunteer (5%) had pathologic ENG, possibly related to central pathologies (p=0.008). Eight patients (40%) and one (5%) control had variable abnormal VEMP records (p=0008).Many IIH patients initially visit otolaryngology clinics since cochlear and vestibular systems are frequently affected in this condition. Our test results suggest inner ear pathologies in these patients. Higher incidence of inferior vestibular nerve and/or saccule dysfunction is detected as a novelty. Increased intracranial pressure may affect the inner ear with similar mechanisms as in hydrops.
Süperior semisirküler kanal dehisansı, ses ile tetiklenen işitme kaybı, vertigo, nistagmus ve osilopsi ile seyreden radyolojik bir tanıdır. Klinik bulgular, kanal üzerindeki kemik yapının bulunmaması nedeniyle gelişen ‘üçüncü pencere’ ile açıklanmaktadır. Bir çalışmada 1000 temporal kemiğin 5’inde bu patoloji bildirilmiştir. Aynı çalışmada bilateral tutulum ise yalnızca bir vakada bildirilmiştir. Bu yazımızda, her iki kulağında uzun yıllardır kulak ağrısı dışında, ek yakınması olmayan, ve bilateral superior semisirküler kanal tutulumu tespit edilen erişkin hasta sunulmaktadır. Bilateral kanal dehisansı nadir görülen bir patolojidir ve bu vakalarda kulak ağrısı beklenmeyen bir semptomdur. Literatür taramamızda benzer bir vakaya rastlanılmamıştır.
We aimed to clarify the relation between allergic rhinitis and the serum levels of 25-hydroxivitamin D in the adult population. The study group consisted of 86 patients with allergic rhinitis who were diagnosed with the help of history of allergy, positive signs for allergy, blood samples, and positive skin prick tests; while the control group included 43 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers with negative skin prick tests. The demographic data, medical history, findings in the physical examinations, serum levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and skin prick test results of the groups were noted. A total of 129 patients fulfilling the necessary criteria were enrolled. The median serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in the study group were significantly lower compared to the control group (P = .014). In the study group, median serum vitamin D levels were significantly higher in men, compared to women (P = .03). There was a significant negative correlation between IgE and vitamin D levels in the allergic rhinitis group (P = .028, r = -0.246). This study showed that patients with allergic rhinitis might be more vulnerable to have lower serum levels of vitamin D. Thus, vitamin D supplementation as an adjunctive therapy may be considered in those patients.
The new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-2019) disease. A wide variety of symptoms of the disease has been frequently reported in the literature in recent years. However, information on the findings in keratinized tissues is still limited. Data on changes in keratinized tissues such as nails, teeth and hair, and oral mucousa due to drugs used in the treatment of this disease are also extremely insufficient.With this study, it was aimed to evaluate the changes in the keratinized tissues of our patients with COVID-19, who are frequently encountered in the Ear Nose and Throat outpatient clinic.The study was carried out on patients who applied to Başkent University Ear Nose and Throat clinic. There were 3 groups. The first group consisted of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and received relevant medical treatments, the second group included individuals who have never experienced COVID-19 infection but have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and the third group is the control group with normal healthy individuals who have never been diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and have not been vaccinated so far. With the Wood's lamp, fluorescent changes in nails, hair, tooth, and the oral mucousa were recorded.A total of 124(75 females, 49 males) patients were included in the study. Positive Wood's finding was significantly higher in COVID-19 group(Group 1) who received Favipravir when compared with individuals who did not receive Favipravir (p < 0.001). Wood's positivity was not detected in any of the individuals who did not use favipravir. The rate of determining Wood's positivity in favipravir users decreases after 58 days.Accordingly, Favipravir accumulation in the kretainized tissues manifest positive Wood's sign in our study.The adverse effects of the accumulation of the drugs-mainly Favipravir-used in the treatment of COVID-19 disease, have not yet been clearly demonstrated so far. Revealing the findings in these tissues with this study will pave the way for investigating changes or drug sequestrations in other organs in the long term.
Background Lingual tonsils, part of the Waldeyers’ Ring, are located in base of the tongue. They are commonly observed in childhood, due to increased immunological activity. Several factors such as laryngopharyngeal reflux, younger age, smoking, and obesity are associated with hypertrophy of lingual tonsils (LTH) in adulthood. However, the relation between allergic rhinitis and LTH is not clearly highlightened in the literature so far. Objective To investigate the role of allergic rhinitis in the development of LTH. Methods Adult patients who were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis were included in the study group. The control group consisted of age- and sex-match healthy volunteers. Complete otorhinolaryngology examination including fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation was performed to both groups. Blood samples were obtained for total immunglobulin E levels, and skin prick tests were performed to both groups. Patients with allergy complaints and positive skin prick tests were included in the study group, while healthy volunteers with negative skin prick tests were enrolled in the control group. The grading for LTH was achieved by a physician who was blind to the study. Results The incidence of LTH was significantly higher in the study group when compared to the control group ( P = .001). Similarly, the incidence of grade 3 LTH was significantly higher in the study group compared to the controls ( P = .002). Conclusion According to our results, LTH is more frequently observed in patients with allergic rhinitis. Grade 3 representing larger LTH is more commonly seen in patients with allergic rhinitis.
Introduction: High jugular bulb (HJB) is usually discovered incidentally; however, it may interfere with inner ear structures such as vestibular aqueduct (VA), facial nerve, and the posterior semicircular canal (PSCC). Objective: The aim is to investigate the incidence of HJB in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo patients with PSCC involvement (PSCC-BPPV). Materials and Methods: The study group included 53 consecutive, PSCC-BPPV patients, diagnosed in our clinic. Following the diagnosis, their high resolution computed temporal bone tomography were performed. The control group consisted of 90 patients, who attended to our clinic for various complaints, and to whom high resolution computed tomography of the temporal bone was conducted. Results: The incidence of HJB in the study group was 41.5% ( n = 22). The incidence of ipsilateral HJB in this group was 28.3% ( n = 15). The incidence of HJB in the control group was 11.1% ( n = 10) ( P < 0.001). The closest distance between HJB and PSCC canal in the control and study groups was 1.61 ± 0.74 mm and 1.17 ± 0.37 mm, respectively ( P = 0.098). Conclusion: The HJB is significantly more frequent in PSCC-BPPV patients. Furthermore, the rate of incidence of HJB in the ipsilateral ears of these patients is significantly higher. Venous hypertension or the turbulence may cause strong pulsations, which influence the detachment of the otoconia into the PSCC.
