title: HSP70 antibodies in 80 patients with "clinically certain" Meniere's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We tested the claim that a significant proportion of patients with Meniere's disease have antibodies to heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) antigen, which may lead to defective endolymphatic sac function and vertigo attacks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were taken from 80 subjects with a "certain" diagnosis of Meniere's disease (American Academy criteria plus electrocochleographic confirmation of endolymphatic hydrops with tone burst stimuli) and were tested for HSP70 antibodies with the OTOblot (hsp70) Western blot assay. The response was recorded as negative, positive, or equivocal. Samples from 80 sex- and age-matched blood donors were used as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 80 patients with "clinically certain" Meniere's disease, 14 were positive for HSP70 antibodies or equivocal; of 80 controls, 10 were positive or equivocal. There was no significant difference (p=0.239). There was no correlation with bilateral disease, "activity" of Meniere's disease, or stage of Meniere's disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with an unequivocal diagnosis of Meniere's disease do not have a significantly raised incidence of HSP70 antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Christchurch Hospital, and the Department of Communication Disorders, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hornibrook
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Myfanwy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spellerberg
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gourley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases; D005260:Female; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins