[Lymphocyte subpopulations and HLA-DR determinations in diseases of the inner ear and Bell's palsy]

Thymus lymphocytes-subpopulations (T-helper T4 and T-suppressorcells T8) were determined in inner ear diseases (e.g. sudden hearing loss, neuronitis vestibularis, Morbus Menière, Bell's Palsy) by specific monoclonal antibodies. T-cell subset ratio (T4/T8) was elevated (less than 3) in about 50% of all patients. DR-typifying was performed because of the well-known control of the immunoregulation through the class II HLA-DR antigens. There was a relative risk of 5.2 in peripheral vestibular lesion (neuronitis vestibularis). The relative risk of autoimmune diseases is found at this level.