title: Sensorineural hearing loss of suspected autoimmune etiology: a report of three cases.
abstract: The present paper reports three cases of sensorineural hearing loss of suspected autoimmune origin. Cases 1 and 2 were bilateral sensorineural hearing loss which responded to steroid therapy. Case 3 was bilateral fluctuant sensorineural hearing loss in conjunction with systemic lupus erythematosus. The pathogenesis of autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss is not yet fully understood. In two patients, hearing levels improved or stabilized following the use of osmotic expanders. The clinical results suggest that endolymphatic hydrops may participate in autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakatani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000276:immunology; D018159:Endolymphatic Hydrops / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone