Development of autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss after endolymphatic sac decompression: two case reports.
OBJECTIVE
To present two case reports that the authors believe demonstrate the creation of autoimmune hearing loss in a healthy ear in response to endolymphatic sac surgery in an opposite ear felt to be afflicted with Ménière's Disease. In both cases, unexpected trama was incurred in performing the original surgery for endolymphatic sac decompression.


METHODS
Two case reports.


METHODS
Ambulatory office and hospital in a tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Two patients selected for their unique development of autoimmunity in the ear that was not operated on.


METHODS
Surgical intervention (endolymphatic sac surgery) for Ménière's Disease.


METHODS
Audiometry and clinical assessment.


RESULTS
Audiometric results of two patients believed to have developed autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss as the result of surgical trauma delivered to the patient's opposite ear.


CONCLUSIONS
It is believed that the two patients presented developed autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss in an opposite nonsurgical ear in response to surgical intervention (believed to be traumatic) in their original Ménière's Disease ear.
Ochoa
Victor M
VM
Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
Weider
Dudley J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000601:surgery*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D003907:Dexamethasone; D011241:Prednisone