title: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a case report supporting the immunologic theory.
abstract: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is one of the autoimmune diseases of the inner ear (AIED), which is characterized by a hearing loss of above 30 decibels in at least three contiguous audiometric frequencies over a time course of 72 hours or shorter. Its cause can be found in only 10% to 15% of patients. Histopathologic findings have reported retrograde neuronal degeneration and atrophy of Corti's organ and of the vascular stria. This paper describes a case of a middle-aged female patient undergoing a treatment for hyperthyroidism who developed bilateral SSNHL. The patient was treated with methylprednisone (1 mg/kg/day) for three days with considerable hearing improvement. This treatment was followed by lung and kidney tuberculosis. The immune mechanism of this entity and the possibility of interconnected participation of the antigen type, of an autoimmune disease and of bacterial infection are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital Central, Instituto de Assistência aos Servidores do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Antonio Luiz dos Santos
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Werneck
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos do Amaral
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Gurgel
authors.forename: Laurinda Moura
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Mello
authors.forename: Gabriella Queiroz
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D008775:Methylprednisolone