ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Otorinolaringologia 1998 March;48(1):11-8

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Otoneurological findings in asymptomatic HIV-seropositive patients.

Sequino L., Iorio N.*, Cassandro E.**

Università degli Studi - Napoli (Caserta) II Policlinico - Cattedra di Audiologia II Policlinico * Ospedale «G. Moscati» - Aversa Servizio di Audiovestibologia ** Università degli Studi - Catanzaro Cattedra di Audiologia

Background. HIV-infection presents an its own classification based on symptoms and involvement of organs and apparatuses. This classification, CDC Atlanta, considers as a separate group (group II) the one including asymptomatic HIV-seropositive patientes.
Methods. A group of HIV-seropositive, not drug -addict, patients between 21 and 37 years old in examined and the presence of sub-clinic signs in their auditory and vestibular canals is evaluated. The subjects were examined with a series of otoneurological tests.
Results. It is interesting to notice that even if the audiometric and vestibular results are normal, the ABR potential answers give evidence of an aspecific CNS involvement in 41% of cases. Since the accurate selection of sample, the authors suggest that the alteration in electrophysiological tests is due to the presence of HIV infection, already present in the symptomatic phase. Therefore, that ABR alterations rappresent a very sensible test to determine a different staging of the disease which has to be modified from the IInd group to the IVth group, subgroup “B”.
Conclusions. For these reasons, the authors suggest to include the ABR test in the periodical routine tests carried out on seropositive asymptomatic patients.