Use of SLC26A4 mutation testing for unilateral enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct.

IMPORTANCE

Approximately one-half of all subjects with unilateral or bilateral hearing loss with enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct (EVA) will have SLC26A4 gene mutations. The number (0, 1, or 2) of mutant alleles of SLC26A4 detected in an individual subject with EVA is each associated with a distinct combination of diagnostic and prognostic information as well as probability of recurrence of EVA in siblings.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the results of SLC26A4 mutation testing in subjects with unilateral EVA. (The study objective was formulated before data were collected.)

DESIGN

Prospective cross-sectional study of cohort ascertained between 1998 and 2012.

SETTING

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, a federal biomedical research facility.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-four subjects (10 males, 14 females) with unilateral EVA, defined as a midpoint diameter greater than 1.5 mm, who were referred or self-referred to participate in a study about the clinical and molecular analysis of EVA. Twenty-one (87.5%) of 24 subjects were white. Mean age was 10.3 years (age range, 5-39 years).

INTERVENTION

SLC26A4 mutation analysis.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Audiometric results, the presence or absence of EVA, and the number of mutant alleles of SLC26A4.

RESULTS

Approximately 8.3% of the subjects with unilateral EVA had 2 mutant SLC26A4 alleles, 16.7% had 1 mutant allele, and 75.0% had 0 mutant alleles.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Unilateral EVA can be associated with all possible SLC26A4 genotype results. The distinct combination of prognoses and recurrence probability associated with each genotype supports the clinical use of testing for SLC26A4 mutations in subjects with unilateral EVA.