[Autoimmune hearing loss: improving diagnostic performance].
OBJECTIVE
Due to the lack of specific serological markers for the diagnosis of immune-mediated hearing loss, an exhaustive immunologic work-up study for patients is usually performed. The aim of the present study is to find the most cost-effective laboratory tests used for the diagnosis of this entity.


METHODS
Comparative study between 2 groups of patients with a high suspicion of suffering diverse clinical forms of immune-mediated hearing loss, subjected to different serologic testing designs: the classical immunologic work-up study (125 patients) in comparison with a more restricted examination analysis (57 patients), based on a high risk profile recently reported.


RESULTS
Diagnostic efficiency was similar.


CONCLUSIONS
Since financial resources are limited, ANA and immunophenotype of PBL (peripheral blood lymphocytes) are recommended for the evaluation of a patient with suspected immune-mediated hearing loss.
García-Berrocal
José Ramón
JR
Grupo de Investigación Otológica, Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, España. jrgarciab@yahoo.com
Ramírez-Camacho
Rafael
R
Trinidad
Almudena
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007136:Immunoglobulins