Effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on collagen-induced autoimmune inner ear disease

Animals that had collagen-induced autoimmune inner ear disease were treated with anti-inflammatory drugs: Solu-Medrol (steroid), sulindac (nonsteroid), or a combination of both. Temporal bones from drug-treated animals were examined for histopathologic and immunohistochemical changes, and sera were examined for levels of circulating antibody to type II collagen. Therapy was beneficial to the animals whether the drugs were administered alone or in combination; however, fewer lesions were observed in animals given either drug alone. Further, animals treated with steroid alone showed the least amount of inner ear damage. Immunohistochemical changes and serum levels of antibodies against type II collagen correlated with the pathologic changes. These findings suggest that both steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may have potential therapeutic value in the treatment of autoimmune ear disease.