Korean J Nephrol.  2008 May;27(3):397-401.

Bilateral Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in a Long term Hemodialysis Patient

• Park JK
• Song MK
• Kim SH
• Kim HY
• Han SJ
• Kang EW

Abstract

Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) is rarely reported in end stage renal disease. In particular, AION combined with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has not been reported in domestic and international journals. Here we report the first case of this combined condition. A 58-year-old male patient in end-stage renal disease presented on painless bilateral visual and hearing deterioration. Clinical findings and imaging studies were compatible with a diagnosis of AION and SNHL. Despite of high-dose steroid therapy, vision and hearing were not significantly recovered. Uremic patients often have coexisting pathology such as hypotension during dialysis, atherosclerosis and anemia, predisposing to AION and SNHL. We describe a patient of dialysis for 10 years who presented with bilateral visual and hearing loss due to complications of long-term dialysis. Our case suggests that nephrologists have to know and treat more carefully this rare but emergent complications of dialysis.

Keyword

Hemodialysis; Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy; Sensorineural hearing loss

MeSH Terms

Anemia
Atherosclerosis
Dialysis
Hearing
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural
Humans
Hypotension
Kidney Failure, Chronic
Male
Middle Aged
Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic
Renal Dialysis
Vision, Ocular