Utility of immunologic parameters in the evaluation of Meniere's disease.
CONCLUSIONS
Because of the lack of association between a positive test and response to corticosteroid treatment, at present, detection of anti-HSP 70 antibody, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), or antinuclear antibody (ANA), does not offer clinically useful information in the treatment of Meniere's disease (MD).


OBJECTIVE
The study was designed to investigate the performance of various laboratory tests, including anti-HSP 70, TNF-alpha, ESR, ANA, and anti-phospholipid antibodies, in the diagnosis and treatment response of patients with MD.


METHODS
Thirty patients who presented with MD and 30 healthy people were selected as study and control groups, respectively. The laboratory panel included the following tests: anti-HSP 70 antibody immunoassay, TNF-alpha, ESR, ANA, and anti-phospholipid antibodies. The study group was given corticosteroid therapy and separated into two groups: the corticosteroid responders and the corticosteroid non-responders. In the follow-up, repeat audiograms were evaluated to determine the response to treatment.


RESULTS
TNF-alpha was found at significantly lower titers in the study group when compared with the control group (p<0.05). Anti-HSP 70 was not found in high titers in the study group. ANA positivity in patients with MD was not statistically different from the control group. There was no significant difference in the treatment response for any of the parameters tested.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. nildasuslu@yahoo.com
Nilda
N
Süslü
Taner
T
Yilmaz
Bülent
B
Gürsel
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D005260:Female; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D001323:Autoantibodies; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011239:Prednisolone