title: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: an autoimmune disease?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review our current knowledge of the pathogenesis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, including viral infection, vascular occlusion and immune system-mediated mechanisms, and to discuss the pathogenesis as it relates to pharmacotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant publications on the pathogenesis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss from 1944 to 2010 were analysed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is defined as hearing loss of 30 dB in three sequential frequencies over 3 days or less. It can be an isolated symptom or the presenting symptom of a systemic disease. The aetiology and pathogenesis remain unknown. Detailed investigation typically reveals a specific cause in about 10% of patients. Proposed theories of causation include viral infections, vascular occlusion and immune system-mediated mechanisms. A variety of therapies have been proposed based on the various proposed aetiologies.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Hospital Policlinico “Umberto I” University of Rome, Sapienza, Italy. antonio.greco@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fusconi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Macri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Vincentiis
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications