Abstract
The etiology of Meniere disease (MD) is unknown. Among the several factors which can provoke the disease is a pathological immune response. Objective: To investigate whether MD is due to a pathological immune reaction. Materials and methods: Immunological assay (IA) was evaluated in a consecutive study on 159 patients with MD (mean age 47.8. years) and the results compared with those from 26 patients operated on because of vestibular schwannoma (VS, mean age 54.1 years), who served as a control group. In cases of MD, transtympanic electrocochleography (ECoG) and hearing threshold were measured. Results: The average hearing level (HL) in the affected ears of patients with MD was 30 dB. Evidence of abnormal plasma protein pattern was found in 127 MD patients (80%). Elevations were found in β1-globulin (54.5%), β2-globulin (26.5%), a2-globulin (34.3%), g-globulin (17.3%), complement (CH100, 36.4%) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA, 43.4%). The onset of the disease did not correlate with the level of the plasma protein neither with the level of IgG titers. Conclusion: Elevated certain plasma proteins in patients with Meniere’s disease could be a sign that Meniere’s disease is a consequence of pathological immune reaction.
Highlights
Autoimmunity has been suggested to cause a Meniere disease (MD) [1]
The present study examined whether subjects with MD have pathological immune reaction related to the elevation of antibodies
Inner ear immune reactions may play a significant role in various types of inner ear disorders, such as progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss [10], MD [11] and delayed EH [12]
Summary
The immune reaction can damage the inner ear structures by involving sensitized lymphocytes and circulating antibodies. These are probably associated with different structures of the inner ear such as the cochlear and vestibular nerve as the inner ear. (2014) Is Meniere Disease Caused by a Pathological Immune Response? This may result in a prolonged immune response with recurrent fluctuating hearing loss, attacks of vertigo and tinnitus, as first described by McCabe [2]. A group of patients with HL due to VS was used as a control group
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