[Value of immunobiological tests in Menière's disease and in rapidly progressive sensorineural deafness]

We have looked for abnormal immunobiologic test in 12 cases of Meniere's disease and 11 cases of rapidly progressive sensorineural hearing loss. After ruling out known etiologies, they were screened with non specific tests (sedimentation rate, electrophoresis, immunoglobulins, circulating immune complexes, cryoglobulins, complement system, auto antibodies) and inner ear specific tests (antibodies against human cochlea by indirect immunofluorescent test and lymphocyte transformation test against a pool of human inner ear. A non specific inflammatory syndrome was found in more than 50% of cases, specific tests of the inner ear were positive in 30% of cases. Corticosteroid therapy achieved a significant improvement of the hearing in 100% of the patients with a positive specific test, versus 50% of those with a negative result. A therapeutic protocol is suggested taking into account the results of the immunobiologic tests.