Evaluation of brainstem auditory evoked potentials and their relationshipwith levels of thyroid autoantibodies in patients with vitiligo

Background/aim: Vitiligo is a common depigmenting disorder. The damage can also occur in similar ways to melanocytes within other organs. We evaluated the brainstem and auditory pathway functions by evaluating brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and whether there is any relationship between auditory functions and autoimmunity.

Materials and methods: Forty patients with vitiligo and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Thyroid functions and autoantibodies were examined and BAEP tests were assessed by a neurologist.

Results: Antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and antithyroglobulin (anti-TGA) antibody positivity was higher in the patient group (P < 0.05). A negative correlation was detected between anti-TPO and lead III, IV, and V latency and I-III interpeak latency (IPL) of the right ear together with lead IV latency and I-V IPL of the left ear in the patient group. When each BAEP parameter was compared between the two groups, more abnormalities were detected in the V latency and III-V IPL of the left ear together with IV and V latency of the right ear.

Conclusion: In this study the presence of a correlation between increased anti-TGA and anti-TPO levels and BAEP parameters may be related to an autoimmune-mediated mechanism. However, further studies are needed to be performed in a large patient series.