ReviewMaedica2026
Hearing Loss in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: a Systematic Review.
Review in Maedica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Hearing loss is an underrecognized manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Proposed mechanisms include autoimmune inner ear injury, vascular occlusion related to antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and ototoxicity from medications such as hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Although multiple case reports and observational studies have described this complication, the overall burden and clinical significance remain unclear. Methods: A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and the Cochrane Library was conducted up to September 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies included cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies, case series, case reports and temporal bone analyses reporting auditory outcomes in SLE patients. Data on prevalence, clinical presentation, pathophysiology and management were extracted. Risk of bias was assessed using validated tools appropriate to each study design. Results: The search identified 236 records; after removal of duplicates and screening, 10 studies were included. These comprised case reports, small series, histopathology and larger observational studies. Reported prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss in SLE ranged from ~27% in pooled analyses to ~55-56% when extended high-frequency audiometry was used. Pathological studies demonstrated vasculitis, stria vascularis atrophy and hair cell loss in SLE patients. Case-based evidence consistently linked sudden hearing loss to antiphospholipid antibodies, supporting a vascular occlusive mechanism. Hydroxychloroquine ototoxicity was described in isolated cases, often reversible after discontinuation, but not consistently supported in larger studies. Conclusion: Hearing loss in SLE is more prevalent than in the general population and arises through multifactorial mechanisms. Early recognition and tailored management, including corticosteroids for autoimmune-mediated cases, anticoagulation for APS and discontinuation of suspected ototoxic drugs, may improve outcomes. Routine audiological monitoring should be considered to reduce the risk of irreversible disability in this patient population.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.