title: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: supporting the immunologic theory.
abstract: Sudden deafness constitutes a diagnostic challenge. Classically, 2 causes, viral and vascular, are considered in the origin of idiopathic sudden hearing loss. More recently added to the list of possibilities are rupture of the membranous labyrinth and immune-mediated sensorineural hearing loss. The latter can be either primary and localized to the inner ear or, in perhaps fewer than one third of cases, secondary to generalized systemic autoimmune disease. The purpose of the present review is to define immune-mediated sudden sensorineural hearing loss as a distinctive entity, on the basis of clinical, immunologic, and pathological findings, and suggest a profile of the typical patient.
authors.affiliation: Service of Otorhinolaryngology, Clínica Puerta de Hierro, Autónoma University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José Ramón García
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Berrocal
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Camacho
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003167:Complement Activation; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005838:Genotype; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents