Recently a patient attended one of our Viva Hears program locations within Viva Care Medical clinics throughout the Lower Mainland of BC. The patient revealed some issues that can be associated with a disease called Meniere’s Disease. In this case the patient had already been assessed for Meniere’s and it was determined they were not suffering from this challenging disease. Although the symptoms of Tinnitus, Vertigo & fluctuating hearing loss can be indicative of Meniere’s they also can be of other maladies and disorders. Upon further assessment and treatment by other healthcare professionals the patient has been initially diagnosed to be living with Cogan syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by recurrent inflammation of the front of the eye (the cornea) and often fever, fatigue, and weight loss, episodes of vertigo (dizziness), tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss. If left untreated it can lead to deafness or blindness. The classic form of the disease was first described by D.G. Cogan in 1945.
Cogan syndrome is a rare, rheumatic disease characterized by inflammation of the ears and eyes. This condition may also be associated with blood-vessel inflammation (called vasculitis) in other areas of the body that can cause major organ damage in 15% of those afflicted or, in a small number of cases, even death. It most commonly occurs in a person’s 20s or 30s. The cause is not known. However, one theory is that it is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks tissue in the eye and ear.
Currently, it is believed that Cogan syndrome is an autoimmune disease. The inflammation in the eye and ear are due to the patient’s own immune system producing antibodies that attack the inner ear and eye tissue. Autoantibodies can be demonstrated in the blood of some patients, and these antibodies have been shown to attack inner ear tissue, (laboratory studies). Infection with the bacteria Chlamydia pneumoniae has been demonstrated in some patients prior to the development of Cogan syndrome, leading some researchers to hypothesize that the autoimmune disease may be initiated by the infection. Chlamydia pneumoniae, a common cause of mild pneumonia, is not found to develop into Cogan syndrome in the vast majority of those infected with the C. pneumoniae bacteria.
Although hearing aids can generally help those with Sensorineural Hearing Loss, in those that the disease has damaged blood vessels in the ear, cochlear implantation may be used to restore some sense of hearing.
Studies have shown a medication mainly used to treat nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness, vertigo, Ménière’s disease, or Cogan syndrome, called Cinnarizine can produce significant improvement in hearing loss in some patients.
Our patient was recently fit with great devices from GN Resound that are able to interact via Bluetooth with their mobile phone, computer or vehicle, enabling them to adjust their settings, volume and even stream their phone calls or music!
We encourage everybody to understand their hearing abilities, especially when you feel your hearing is healthy! Establish a baseline and have that on your medical record, stored with your Family Physician!
Schedule your appointment now, 7788078482 hear@vivacare.ca or online at vivahears.janeapp.com
#amplifylife