Autoimmune Identification of Sudden Hearing Loss

Abstract

Objective—To identify autoantibody bands using Western blotting in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Material and Methods—All patients admitted to our emergency ward with ISSNHL during a 3-year period (n=51) were included in a diagnostic laboratory protocol, which included a non-specific test battery for immune disorders and a Western blot (WB) for bovine cochlear antigen, and underwent corticosteroid therapy. Results—In 16 cases (31%) a band was identified in the WB. Cases with a positive WB showed abnormal results in a greater number of non-specific laboratory tests (3.6±1.3 vs 0.9±1.1; p<0.001) and had greater hearing recovery (33.8%±17.7% vs 50.6%±18.5%; p<0.01). Moreover, patients with a positive WB showed good correlations between the degree of hearing recovery and both early onset of treatment (0.5504x+43.621; R²=0.8603; p<0.01) and age (0.4053x+56.298; R²=0.8952; p<0.01). The non-specific test battery showed a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 94% for detecting an autoimmune disorder compared with WB. Conclusion—A positive WB predicts a good response to corticosteroid therapy in ISSNHL patients. If it is not possible to perform a WB then the non-specific test battery has a good capability for predicting autoimmune disorders.

• idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss
• inner ear autoimmune disorder
• laboratory diagnosis
• Western blot

García Callejo FJ, Marco Algarra J, Martínez Beneyto MP, Orts Alborch MH, Morant Ventura A. Autoimmune identification of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Acta Otolaryngol 2003; 123: 168–171.

García Callejo FJ, Marco Algarra J, Martínez Beneyto MP, Orts Alborch MH, Morant Ventura A. Autoimmune identification of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Acta Otolaryngol 2003; 123: 168–171.