Audiovestibular damage in Relapsing Polychondritis
Audiovestibular involvement presents as hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and fullness in the ear (due to serous otitis media), and may occur in up to one-third of patients. Conductive hearing loss may result from inflammatory edema or cartilage collapse of the auricle, external auditory canal, and/or eustachian tubes. Sensorineural hearing loss secondary to inflammation of the internal auditory artery can also occur.
