Autoimmune inner ear disease: diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in a multidisciplinary setting

J Am Acad Audiol. 2003 May-Jun;14(4):225-30.

Abstract

Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED) is a clinical syndrome of uncertain pathogenesis. It is associated with bilateral rapidly progressive hearing loss. The hearing loss may be associated with vestibular symptoms. Autoimmunity has been proposed as the pathogenesis of this sort of hearing loss, although the mechanism of the disease is poorly understood. It is well accepted that the endolymphatic sac is an immunocompetent organ and circulating autoantibodies against inner ear antigens have been reported, as have viral antigens in the endolymph, although the sensitivity, specificity, and roles of those antibodies in a disease process are poorly defined. We will describe the clinical aspects of the disease, the histopathology, the immunologic indicators, the types of presentation, both from the audiologic and vestibular point of view, clinical trials for treatment and the follow-up. One of our conclusions is that many of these patients respond favorably to the treatment Methotrexate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / metabolism
  • Autoantigens / metabolism
  • Autoimmune Diseases* / complications
  • Autoimmune Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Autoimmune Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Autoimmune Diseases* / immunology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Ear Diseases* / complications
  • Ear Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Ear Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Ear Diseases* / immunology
  • Endolymph / immunology
  • Endolymphatic Sac / immunology
  • Female
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / etiology
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed
  • Vertigo / etiology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Methotrexate