Audiology findings in patients with teprotumumab associated otologic symptoms

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case series of subjective and objective hearing function changes associated with teprotumumab treatment for thyroid eye disease. Observations: A 74-year-old female with a history of Graves' disease with thyroid eye disease was treated with teprotumumab. She had a history of bilateral tinnitus and noticed a subjective improvement in her tinnitus after the second infusion. Audiology testing obtained before, during, and after completion of infusions showed symmetric and rapidly progressive worsening of the patient's sensorineural hearing loss. In contrast, a 42-year-old male with a history of Grave's disease endorsed worsening intermittent tinnitus and low-pitched hearing loss after initiation of teprotumumab. Audiology testing before, during, and after completion of infusions showed stable and normal hearing function bilaterally. Conclusion and importance: This case series highlights the importance of objective testing in patients prior to and after teprotumumab initiation as subjective hearing changes may not accurately reflect objective hearing function. In addition, this report suggests that teprotumumab may play a role in potentiating sensorineural hearing loss.

Keywords

• Thyroid eye disease (TED)
• Teprotumumab
• Sensorineural hearing loss
• Grave's orbitopathy
• Hearing