[Immunohistochemical detection of humoral autoantibodies in patients with hearing loss in the last hearing ear].
BACKGROUND
An autoimmune etiology similar to the sympathetic ophthalmia has been discussed for sensorineural hearing loss on the last hearing ear following deafness in the first ear. In sympathetic cochleolabyrinthitis inner ear proteins are thought to be released after laterobasal fracture, which may induce an autoimmune process in the last hearing ear. Animal models have failed to clearly demonstrate the location of the target in the labyrinth, attacked by immunologic processes. Furthermore, it is unclear whether the humoral or cellular pathway is initiating this process.


METHODS
Serum was acquired from 15 patients with traumatic or post-inflammatory unilateral deafness and slowly progressive or sudden sensorineural hearing loss on the last hearing ear. Deparaffinized sections of rat temporal bones were incubated with patient serum and subjected to immunohistochemical examination.


RESULTS
A specific but heterogeneous binding pattern of the labyrinth was found in 14 of 15 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate different autoantibodies in the patient serum, which may be the cause of the hearing loss. Therefore, in patients with sensorineural hearing loss on the last hearing ear, we recommend a therapeutic trial with corticosteroids.
Bachor
E
E
Universitäts-HNO-Klinik Essen. edgar.bachor@medizin.uni-ulm.de
ten Cate
W J
WJ
Gloddek
B
B
Ehsani
N
N
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003051:Cochlea / Q000276:immunology; D003638:Deafness / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001323:Autoantibodies