Emilie Béquignon1,2,3,4,5, Aziz Guellich1,6,7,8, Sophie Bartier1, Marc Raynal1,2, Virginie Prulière-Escabasse1,2,3, Florence Canouï-Poitrine1,9, André Coste1,2,3,4,5, Thibaud Damy1,6,7,8. 1. a School of Medicine , University Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC) , Créteil , France. 2. b Department of Oto-rhino-laryngo Surgery , Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil , Créteil , France. 3. c Department of Oto-rhino-laryngology , AP-HP, Henri Mondor Teaching Hospital , Créteil , France. 4. d INSERM U955 , Créteil , France. 5. e CNRS, ERL 7240 , Créteil , France. 6. f Department of Cardiology , AP-HP, Henri Mondor Teaching Hospital , Créteil , France. 7. g GRC Amyloid Research Institute, IMRB/INSERM U955 , 8 rue du Général Sarrail , Créteil , France. 8. h Mondor Amyloidosis Network, Henri Mondor Teaching Hospital , Créteil , France. 9. i Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics , AP-HP, Henri Mondor Teaching Hospital , Créteil , France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt) is an age-related life-threatening condition. Prognosis is mainly dependent on cardiac involvement. Other organs and tissues may be affected. Their early recognition may increase awareness of physicians and positively affects the prognosis. Presbycusis is another age-related disorder. Whether this disease is associated to ATTRwt amyloidosis is unknown. METHODS: Sixteen consecutive patients with confirmed diagnosis of ATTRwt amyloidosis at the Mondor Amyloidosis Network, France, underwent otoscopy and audiological tests including pure tone audiometry, speech reception threshold and speech discrimination score. RESULTS: The mean age was 79 ± 5 years. All were male with an NYHA average of 2.5 ± 0.8. All the patients had sensorineural hearing loss that seemed to preexist to cardiac disorder with greater severity than expected for their age. For speech discrimination test, the mean speech reception threshold was 28 ± 15 dB and the mean speech discrimination score was 68 ± 16 at 40 dB. Ten patients (62.5%) failed to recognize 100% of the words. Compared to age-related expectations according to statistical distribution (ISO), hearing loss included all frequencies and was more severe in patients with ATTRwt amyloidosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that amyloid deposits could infiltrate the various anatomical structures of the inner ear. Description of specific audiologic pattern of ATTRwt amyloidosis might be proposed as a "red flag" and could help for early identification of patients who may be at high risk of ATTRwt amyloidosis as specific treatments are available.
BACKGROUND:Wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt) is an age-related life-threatening condition. Prognosis is mainly dependent on cardiac involvement. Other organs and tissues may be affected. Their early recognition may increase awareness of physicians and positively affects the prognosis. Presbycusis is another age-related disorder. Whether this disease is associated to ATTRwt amyloidosis is unknown. METHODS: Sixteen consecutive patients with confirmed diagnosis of ATTRwt amyloidosis at the Mondor Amyloidosis Network, France, underwent otoscopy and audiological tests including pure tone audiometry, speech reception threshold and speech discrimination score. RESULTS: The mean age was 79 ± 5 years. All were male with an NYHA average of 2.5 ± 0.8. All the patients had sensorineural hearing loss that seemed to preexist to cardiac disorder with greater severity than expected for their age. For speech discrimination test, the mean speech reception threshold was 28 ± 15 dB and the mean speech discrimination score was 68 ± 16 at 40 dB. Ten patients (62.5%) failed to recognize 100% of the words. Compared to age-related expectations according to statistical distribution (ISO), hearing loss included all frequencies and was more severe in patients with ATTRwt amyloidosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that amyloid deposits could infiltrate the various anatomical structures of the inner ear. Description of specific audiologic pattern of ATTRwt amyloidosis might be proposed as a "red flag" and could help for early identification of patients who may be at high risk of ATTRwt amyloidosis as specific treatments are available.