Diagnostic tests for immunomediated hearing loss: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To quantitatively evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of diagnostic tests for immunomediated hearing loss.


METHODS
We searched Medline and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for potentially relevant studies.


METHODS
Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria of this systematic review. The diagnosis of immunomediated hearing loss was based on the clinical presentation and the response to corticosteroid administration.


METHODS
The following data were extracted from the selected studies and entered into a standardised database: population demographics; exclusion and inclusion criteria; diagnostic tests; sensitivity; specificity; the number of true positive, true negative, false positive and false negative values; therapy used, including dose and duration; and delay between symptom onset and therapy commencement.


RESULTS
This systematic review combined data from 679 patients with immunomediated hearing loss, reported by 22 research teams. Substantial heterogeneity was found among the included studies; for this reason, summary sensitivity and specificity values were not computed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of diagnostic tests for immunomediated hearing loss depend on many factors, and there is a risk of potential bias. This is the first time that such a systematic review has been presented; such a review is a more rigorous method of demonstrating the utility of the available diagnostic tests.
Lobo
D
D
Ear Research Group, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. d.lobo@excite.com
López
F García
FG
García-Berrocal
J R
JR
Ramírez-Camacho
R
R
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones