[Labyrinthine hemorrhage caused by anticoagulant therapy]. / Hémorragie labyrinthique liée aux anticoagulants.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of labyrinthine hemorrhage with a sudden sensorineural hearing loss and vertigo. This is a rare mechanism of inner ear damage, which may be considered in patients with anticoagulant therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report a case of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and vertigo in a 73-year-old male on anticoagulant therapy for arrhythmia. An audiovestibular and imaging work-up was performed. RESULTS: Audiometry showed a left profound hearing loss. Videonystagmography demonstrated a left labyrinthine deficit. Hemostasis assessment showed an INR at 7.5 MR imaging evidenced a high intralabyrinthine signal on T1-weighted images without gadolinium and on FLAIR T2-weighted images, suggesting labyrinthine hemorrhage. At clinical follow-up the vertigo regressed but the hearing function was not recovered. CONCLUSION: Labyrinthine hemorrhage should be evoked in the event of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients with anticoagulant therapy. MRI is a useful diagnostic tool in this case.