[Immunological aspects of Menière's disease]

Among the various aetiopathogenetic hypotheses regarding Ménière's disease, the immunologic one has recently received a considerable amount of interest. Several studies have been performed using specific inner ear antigens (cell-mediated immunity) or by the evolution of circulating autoantibodies (i.e. against type II collagen or immune complex, etc...). We studied the immunological condition of 40 patients suffering from Ménière's disease, through the analysis of the following immunological blood tests: IgG, IgA, IgM, C3c, C4 and C-haemolytic complement level; circulating immune complexes, autoantibodies screening (Rheumatoid and antinuclear factors, mitochondrial smooth muscle and type II collagen antigens), cryoglobulins; T3, T4, T4/T8 monoclonal antibodies. Our results showed a rise in IgG levels in 6 patients (15%) and in IgA level, in 4 patients (10%). IgM blood level were abnormal in only one patient. Complement blood tests showed pathological results in 9 patients. All the patients had normal immunological tests regards to the autoantibody screening and T3, T4, T4/T8 monoclonal antibodies. The immunological results obtained in the patients suffering from Ménière's disease were compared with those of the control group (subjects suffering from vertigo by other causes than Ménière's disease); no significant difference was assessed between the two groups. The abnormal immunological pattern found in a few Ménière patients seems to be due to an aspecific response of the immune system, as the consequence of an alteration of the normal inner ear homeostasis.