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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 26, 2016
The lymphocyte transformation test with type II collagen as a diagnostic tool of autoimmune sensorineural hearing
Insights
The lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) can diagnose autoimmune hearing loss. Using type II collagen as an antigen, this study found a significant immune response in patients with progressive sensorineural hearing loss (PSNHL).
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Otolaryngology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Cellular immunological disorders are diagnosed using the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT).
- Autoimmune mechanisms in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) can be assessed using inner ear tissue as an antigen.
- Type II collagen is implicated in rheumatoid diseases and autoimmune SNHL.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the role of type II collagen in autoimmune SNHL.
- To assess immune responses in patients with progressive sensorineural hearing loss (PSNHL) using LTT.
Main Methods:
- Conducted the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) on 68 patients with PSNHL and 68 healthy volunteers.
- Utilized type II collagen as the specific antigen for the LTT.
Main Results:
- Thirty-four out of 68 PSNHL patients exhibited a strong positive LTT response to type II collagen.
- Only four out of 68 healthy volunteers showed a positive LTT response, with two having a history of rheumatoid arthritis.
Conclusions:
- Type II collagen may serve as an autoantigen in a subset of patients with progressive sensorineural hearing loss.
- LTT with type II collagen shows potential for diagnosing autoimmune mechanisms in PSNHL.
Abstract:
Immunological disorders of the cellular type can be diagnosed by the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT). An autoimmune mechanism of certain cases of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) can be evaluated by using human inner ear tissue as an antigen. Recent studies have shown that type II collagen plays an important role, not only in some autoimmune mediated rheumatoid diseases, but also as an antigenic substrate of inner ear tissue in autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss. This paper deals with results of the lymphocyte transformation test using type II collagen as antigen in 68 patients with progressive sensorineural hearing loss (PSNHL) and 68 healthy volunteers. Thirty-four patients showed a strong stimulation in the lymphocyte transformation test, in contrast to only four volunteers in the control group, two of whom had a history of rheumatoid arthritis.
