Clinical associations of serum antiendothelial cell antibodies in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
The role of antiendothelial cell antibodies in systemic vasculitis has been reported. The aim of the study was to define the clinical associations of serum antiendothelial cell antibodies in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.


METHODS
A prospective study in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.


METHODS
Serum samples were taken from 59 consecutive patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss at time of presentation and from 28 normal control subjects. Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to detect antiendothelial cell antibodies.


RESULTS
The prevalence of antiendothelial cell antibody detection was 54% (32 of 59 patients), with a statistically significant difference between patients and control subjects (P =.0004). Antiendothelial cell antibody positivity was significantly associated with absent recovery of hearing loss (P =.0020).


CONCLUSIONS
The cytotoxicity to endothelial cells of the inner ear by antiendothelial cell antibody-positive sera might play a role in causing the stria vascularis damage in immune-mediated sudden sensorineural deafness. The appearance of antiendothelial cell antibody is related to the poor outcome of hearing loss, and its detection could be helpful in the selection of particular patients with sensorineural hearing loss for specific immunosuppressive treatments.
Cadoni
Gabriella
G
Institute of Otolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. gabcad@virgilio.it
Agostino
Stefania
S
Manna
Raffaele
R
De Santis
Antonella
A
Fetoni
Anna Rita
AR
Vulpiani
Paola
P
Ottaviani
Fabrizio
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D003051:Cochlea / Q000276:immunology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013316:Stria Vascularis / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; C087589:anti-endothelial cell antibody; D008775:Methylprednisolone