[Ludwig van Beethoven: an autoimmune deafness?].
The author reminds us of the great moments of Beethoven's life and of the different stages of his deafness onset, until to last instants. The post-mortem examination, performed by doctor Wagner, and the scientific studies of the remains, during the exhumations, are reported. Beethoven's deafness was clearly a sensorineural impairment and the previously suggested prevalent hypotheses are discussed. A new theory is emphasized, based on modern studies about autoimmune sensorineural hearing losses in relation with chronic inflammatory bowel ailment. Conclusion is that Beethoven's deafness was probably owing to a primary autoimmune degeneration of the organ of Corti, giving rise to atrophy of the auditory nerve.
Davies
P J
PJ
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000266:history*; D003638:Deafness / Q000266:history*; D005858:Germany; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D009146:Music / Q000266:history*
Ludwig van Beethoven: une surdité auto-immune?