Hearing loss with positional changes due to spontaneous intracranial hypotension improved with treatment; a case report

• Published in: Rinsho Shinkeigaku Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 50 - 53
• Main Authors: Yasui, Keizo, Hasegawa, Yasuhiro, Yamada, Shinichiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Societas Neurologica Japonica 01.01.2013
• Subjects: audiogram; Audiometry - methods; Blood Patch, Epidural; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea - complications; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea - diagnosis; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea - therapy; epidural blood patch; Female; hearing loss; Hearing Loss - diagnosis; Hearing Loss - etiology; Hearing Loss - therapy; Humans; Intracranial Hypotension - complications; Intracranial Hypotension - diagnosis; Intracranial Hypotension - therapy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Middle Aged; Myelography; positional changes; Posture - physiology; spontaneous intracranial hypotension; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0009-918X; 1882-0654
• DOI: 10.5692/clinicalneurol.53.50

A 51-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of the right ear fullness and orthostatic headache. Based on the findings of low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure and detected images of CSF leakage by MRI myelography and radionuclide cisternography, she was diagnosed as having spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). Audiograms in the supine and sitting positions showed a marked hearing loss of low-frequencies and its exacerbation after the sitting. After she was treated with bed rest, hydration and epidural blood patch, hearing loss with positional changes gradually improved. In conclusion, non-invasive examinations with audiogram in the supine and sitting positions could be useful in the diagnosis of SIH and the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of hearing loss.