Cochlear Changes in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

• DOI: 10.1016/j.otohns.2005.02.004
• Publication Date: 2005-07-18T13:51:22Z
• Authors: Hisaki Fukushima; Sebahattin Cureoglu; Patricia A. Schac...; Takeshi Kusunoki; Mehmet F. Oktay; Naomi Fukushima; Michael M. Paparella; Tamotsu Harada
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Adolescent; Cochlear Diseases; Temporal Bone; Middle Aged; Cochlea; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Female; Aged

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of diabetes on cochlear elements in human beings.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING:Twenty‐six temporal bones (mean age, 37.5 years) with type 1 diabetes and 30 age‐matched controls were examined by light microscopy. We compared the findings of cochlear vessels, hair cells, spiral ganglion cells, and cochlear lateral walls.RESULTS:In diabetics, the walls of vessels of the basilar membrane (P < 0.001) and vessels of the stria vascularis were (P < 0.01) significantly thicker in all turns and loss of outer hair cells (OHCs) was significantly greater in the lower basal turn (P < 0.01). Atrophy of the stria vascularis in all turns (P < 0.0001) and loss of spiral ligament cells in upper turns (P < 0.01) were significantly higher than controls. No significant difference was obtained in the number of spiral ganglion cells between groups.CONCLUSION:This study suggests that type 1 diabetes mellitus can cause cochlear microangiopathy and subsequently degeneration of cochlear lateral walls and OHCs.