Autoimmune hearing loss

Tissue nonspecific antibodies may give an idea about the etiopathogenesis of the inner ear disease. They are of some prognostic and therapeutic value. They are routinely tested in most inner ear patients. On the other hand, inner ear specific autoantibodies do exist. Their diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic significance are still unclear. Cellular immunity is tested only in selected cases based upon the clinical picture and the results of humoral immunity testing. It needs whole fresh blood as well as facilities not available in all laboratories. Their main role seems to be in providing solid basis for cortisone therapy justification. Our therapeutic concept proved to be promising in some cases. Immune-mediated inner ear disorders do not form a separate clinical entity. We would rather add immune mediation to the different causes postulated for the various inner ear disorders, as a plausible explanation for a certain percentage of the group categorized as idiopathic of unknown etiology.