Does Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) have any effect on hearing?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) have any effect on hearing?
IRAS ID
200500
Contact name
Kai Uus
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is a rare autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) which attacks a protein in the body, Aquaporin-4 (AQP4).
The primary symptoms of patients with NMO are Optic Neuritis (inflammation of the Optic nerve) and Acute Transverse Myelitis (Inflammation of the Spinal Cord). Much research has been conducted investigating the prevalence and affect of these symptoms in patients with NMO. However due to the rarity of the disease in question, there is a lack of research into the collateral effects of NMO.
This study aims to explore just that; the more uncommon effects of NMO. There is a gap in research into whether NMO has any effect on the auditory system and auditory pathway. A question, which if answered, will expand our understanding of the pathology of this relatively new disease.
There is a precedent for this study. There has been much research conducted on animals, investigating the role of AQP-4 within the auditory system. Studies conducted on mice and rats have found AQP-4 to be expressed in the middle ear, supporting cells in the cochlea (organ of hearing) and in the central parts of the vestibulocohlear nerve (which transmits auditory nerve signals to the brain). Studies have also shown significantly increased Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) thresholds in AQP-4 deficient mice.
However, research investigating this topic of interest has only been conducted on animals thus far.
I aim to investigate whether there is a significant correlation between NMO and abnormal auditory test results. The potential effects of NMO on the auditory system are likely to be subtle and therefore I plan to conduct various non-invasive tests on patients diagnosed with NMO, and a control group who do not have NMO, which will investigate the functionality of all levels of the auditory system up to the midbrain.
REC name
Wales REC 1
REC reference
16/WA/0202
Date of REC Opinion
23 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion