[Testing of related antibodies against inner ear tissues and clinical observation on autoimmune inner ear disease]

Forty-one patients of autoimmune inner ear disease were examined with the clinical audiometry and immunocytochemical method. The results showed that there were sensorineural hearing loss in all patients. Serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) elevation in 14 of 41 patients and antibodies against inner ear tissue in 4 of 41 patients were observed. It suggests that there is specific antibody against inner ear in the serum of patients with autoimmune inner ear disease, and this disease may be originated from the cochlea or the retrocochlea. The method of clinical analyses, the standards of diagnosis and the principles of treatment were discussed.