Antibody deficiency disorders and deafness

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In a cross-sectional study of 47 patients with the primary antibody deficiency disorders of x-linked agammaglobulinema or common variable immunodeficiency, Berlucchi et al found that a substantial number (18 patients) had sensorineural hearing loss, which was bilateral in the majority of patients. Although recurrent acute and chronic otitis media are recognized clinical problems in these patients, the data of these Italian investigators suggest that other contributing factors, such as genetics and chronic viral central nervous system infection, may play a role.