Genetic Study Reveals Psoriasis-Sudden Hearing Loss Connection

Key Takeaways

• A Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed a relationship between psoriasis and SSNHL.
• Sensitivity analyses validated the robustness and reliability of the findings, showing no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy.
• The authors said the results can raise awareness of hearing loss risks in psoriasis patients and interdisciplinary approaches to care.

A recent genetic study has established a causal relationship between psoriasis and an elevated risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Researchers derived the findings using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to identify potential connections between inflammatory skin disease and auditory disorders. The study used genome-wide association study (GWAS) data sourced from the IEU OpenGWAS project to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with SSNHL. The authors employed the inverse variance weighted (IVW) technique to evaluate the genetic relationship.

According to the results of the analysis, there was a significant causal relationship between. (OR = 808.86; 95% CI 3.32–196942.07, P = 0.02), further validated by sensitivity analysis. Leave-one-out analysis confirmed the robustness of the causal effect, and MR-Egger and IVW analyses showed no heterogeneity or confounding due to horizontal pleiotropy (Q = 13.53, P = 0.76; Q = 14.73, P = 0.74), suggesting the association between psoriasis and SSNHL is unlikely to be influenced by confounding genetic factors.

"From a genetic perspective, there is a causal relationship between psoriasis and an increased risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss," the authors concluded. 

Source: Wu L, et al. Archives of Dermatological Research. 2025. Doi:10.1007/s00403-024-03700-y