Immunologic aspects of otologic disease: an overview.

The immunologic explosion has now reached the field of otology. By having better techniques to measure the changes at cellular and molecular levels, it is now possible to devise experiments to show morphologic anatomic changes as well as functional changes. The demonstration in 1980 (M.S.) that tympanosclerosis could be induced immunologically represents a concrete advancement in immunologic thinking in conceptualization of otologic disease. In 1974, one of the authors (M.S.) published work dealing with the treatment of vasculitis of immunologic origin for sudden hearing loss. This was aimed at inhibiting the complement cascade from starting its destructive action. Recently, the immunologic challenge in animals demonstrated by changes in the inner ear was shown by one of the authors (T.J.Y.). Such changes were compatible with labyrinthine hydrops, or Meniere's disease, otosclerosis, and sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction.