title: Expression of autoantibodies in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish the expression rate of autoimmunity in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and to determine whether a positive marker is associated with a higher rate of hearing recovery after steroid treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was performed on 137 patients who experienced sudden sensorineural hearing loss and underwent immunoserologic investigations. Autoantibodies evaluated on the day of admission included anti-double-stranded DNA, rheumatoid factor, antiphospholipid immunoglobulins G and M, antinuclear antibody, and complements C3 and C4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 137 patients, 75 were male and 62 were female (mean age, 45.1 years). Hearing loss was found on the left side in 61 patients and on the right side in 76 patients. Elevation of at least 1 autoantibody or abnormal complement levels were found in 80 patients (58%), and abnormalities of 2 or more antibodies were found in 28 (20%). There were no statistically significant correlations between autoantibody abnormalities and age, initial hearing level, or positive treatment response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no clear evidence of a correlation between autoimmunity and hearing improvement in patients with autoantibody abnormalities. A high (but not significant) expression rate of autoantibody abnormality and complement level was seen in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Byoung Seo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Joo Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jung Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ju Hyoung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies