Audiological and electrophysiological alterations in HIV-infected individuals subjected or not to antiretroviral therapy

Publication date: Available online 2 August 2017
Source:Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Author(s): Carla Gentile Matas, Alessandra Giannella Samelli, Fernanda Cristina Leite Magliaro, Aluisio Segurado
IntroductionThe HIV and infections related to it can affect multiple sites in the hearing system. The use of High-Activity Anti-Retroviral Therapy can cause side effects such as ototoxicity. Thus, no consistent patterns of hearing impairment in adults with HIV/AIDS have been established, and the problems that affect the hearing system of this population warrant further research.ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the audiological and electrophysiological data of HIV-positive patients with and without AIDS, who were receiving HAART, to healthy individuals.MethodsIt was a cross-sectional study conducted with 71 subjects (30–48 years old), divided into groups: Research Group I: 16 HIV-positive individuals without AIDS (not receiving antiretroviral treatment); Research Group II: 25 HIV-positive individuals with AIDS (receiving antiretroviral treatment); Control Group: 30 healthy subjects. All individuals were tested by pure-tone air conduction thresholds at 0.25–8kHz, extended high frequencies at 9–20kHz, electrophysiological tests (Auditory Brainstem Response – ABR, Middle Latency Responses – MLR, Cognitive Potential – P300).ResultsResearch Group I and Research Group II had higher hearing thresholds in both conventional and high frequency audiometry when compared to the control group, prolonged latency of waves I, III, V and interpeak I–V in ABR and prolonged latency of P300. Regarding MLR, there was a decrease in the amplitude of the Pa wave of Research Group II compared to the Research Group I.ConclusionsBoth groups with HIV had higher hearing thresholds when compared to healthy individuals (group exposed to antiretroviral treatment showed the worst hearing threshold) and seemed to have lower neuroelectric transmission speed along the auditory pathway in the brainstem, subcortical and cortical regions.



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