Cogan’s Syndrome is one of the rarest diseases that affect the eye and ear. It is identified with the inflammation in the cornea of the eye, weight loss, fever, fatigue, and dizziness and hearing loss. If the problems are not treated in time then it may lead to deafness and eye sight loss. This disease was initially identifies in 1945 by D.G.Cogan and it is actually a very rare disease which is identified with inflammation of eyes and ears. This rheumatic disorder may also have inflammation of blood vessels that is called as vasculitis.
In few patients damage of some vital organ is also witnessed along with few death cases, when the disease was left untreated. This disease is mostly experienced by the people who are 20 to 30 years of age. The cause of the disease is not known clearly but the disease is believed to be an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system of the body gets defected and starts attacking the tissues of ears and eyes. This disease may lead to bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, inflammatory ocular manifestations and vestibular symptoms. The disease is complicated with numerous symptoms. As such there is no specific test to directly diagnose the disease.
Cogan’s Syndrome is basically an autoimmune disease. The major cause behind the disease is patient’s own antibodies that start attacking the eye and ear cells. These auto antibodies can be seen in the blood samples of the patient. In many laboratory studies these antibodies are seen attacking the eyes and ear tissues for any unknown reasons. In couple of patients a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia pneumonia has been seen before the onset of Cogan’s syndrome. This particular bacterium is the cause behind the pneumonia and just after the pneumonia patients have started experiencing the symptoms of Cogan disease. Some scientists have developed a belief that pneumonia could be the trigger behind the development of this autoimmune disorder. But there is no proof that every patient suffering from pneumonia may have this disease.
The most common symptom of the Cogan’s Syndrome is the inflammation in ear and eye though there could be many other associated symptoms of this disease:
Vertigo in which a dizziness along with nausea is experienced
Blurred vision with a red and painful eye that becomes sensitive to light
Poor balance due to the neural system troubles
Vomiting and nausea sensation
Weight loss along with fever and fatigue
Hearing loss that could be sever and in few cases the hearing loss may become permanent
In some patients the lymph nodes could be enlarged in size Chest pain, rashes and arm pain is also some of the common symptoms
Patient’s may also suffer breath shortness
The basic diagnosis of the disease is done on the basis of physical examination. Only after finding the common symptoms in both ear and eyes the doctor may confirm the disease. The combination of symptoms and their careful evaluation is the basis of diagnosis in Cogan’s Syndrome. Only after the eyes and inner portion of the ear is affected the doctors can reach to any conclusion. With only 1 major symptom, it is hard to diagnose this particular disease. Now in some cases both the eyes and ear may get affected at the same time though in some cases these two organs may start showing the symptoms one after the other.
The diagnosis of this disease is initiated by ruling out the chances of infections like Syphilis, viral infections, tuberculosis and Chlamydia. Some rheumatic diseases symptoms are also ruled out for assessing this disease. In some cases the patient is referred to an ophthalmologist for assessing the eyes for any particular eye infection. Ear is also diagnosed for checking the hearing, inner ear infections and balanced of the body. Nervous system is also assessed since many neural disorders may lead to hearing troubles. As such there are no specific tests for this disease, on the basis of observation of the symptoms and deletion of the chances of other diseases, the doctors can identify this disease.
Steroids are the immediate cure for the Cogan’s Syndrome, since the steroids can immediately offer relief in inflammatory symptoms. Another effective anti-inflammatory drug used in this disease is TNF-alpha which is used when patients do not respond to steroids. After the hearing loss medication may not help though Cochlear implants have seen to help the patients in enhancing their hearing.
In eye symptoms also the relief could be given with the help of steroids and anti-inflammatory medicines. But if these medicines do not work oral antibiotics could also be used. Oral corticosteroids are used when disease is chronic. Immunosupresive drugs are also used in patients suffering from this disease. Diuretic medication is suggested if there is access fluid accumulation in your ear that may lead to fluid imbalance.
Permanent visual or hearing damage could be caused in Cogan’s Syndrome. However effective treatment can help the patient manage this disease.
Cogan’s Syndrome cannot be prevented by any means.