The Inner Ear Dysfunction in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Hearing and vestibular tests were performed in 229 patients who were treated with hemodialysis (H.D.) and the following results were obtained. (1) One hundred and six patients exhibited bilateral hearing loss and 31 showed unilaterally impaired hearing. (2) Vestibular dysfunction was found in 83 patients. (3) Those who were impaired both in the cochlea and the vestibular organ were 60. (4) No correlations were observed between the occurrence rate of the inner ear dysfunction and Hct, BUN and serum creatinine levels. (5) The results in the present study did not suggest the possibility that the hearing loss was progressively getting worse during the period of H.D. therapy. Based on these results, the possible etiological factors in the inner ear dysfunction were discussed. © 1981, Tohoku University Medical Press. All rights reserved.