Natural History of Auditory Function in Patients with Alport Syndrome: A Case Series Study

Abstract

Background: Alport syndrome (AS) is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive renal disease, ocular abnormalities, and sensorineural hearing loss. However, the audiological profile of patients with AS remains elusive. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the natural history of auditory function in patients with AS. Methods: Exome or targeted sequencing for deafness genes was performed to confirm the pathogenic variants in patients with AS. Results: We identified fifteen individuals with AS who carried pathogenic variants of COL4A3, COL4A4, or COL4A5. Among fifteen, twelve (80%) showed hematuria, and six (40%) showed proteinuria. The patients exhibited bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which was progressive and symmetric. The hearing thresholds increased according to age and plateaued at the level of 53 dB HL, indicating the hearing loss did not reach the severe-to-moderate level. The auditory dysfunction showed a distinct natural history depending on the inheritance pattern, but there was no remarkable difference between males and females among X-linked AS. Conclusions: Auditory dysfunction in AS is progressive up to the level of moderate hearing loss. Precise auditory rehabilitation for patients with AS is warranted depending on the inheritance pattern and genetic predisposition.