Altered immunoregulations in otosclerosis: presence of autoantibodies in otosclerotic sera samples.

A current concept of the etiopathogenesis of otosclerosis is an immune response. The purpose of this study was to determine if autoantibodies were present in sera samples from patients with known otosclerosis. Organ non-specific total antinuclear antibodies (tANA) were determined in 98 sera samples by the immunofluorescent method in 47.9% of otosclerotic patients versus 5% in controls. The most frequent specific antinuclear antibody was antibody to native deoxyribonucleinic acid and antibody to ribonucleoprotein. Tissue-specific antibodies to native-collagen type II molecule (ACA II) were determined by counter-immunoelectrophoresis in the same sera samples and were detected in 54% versus none in healthy sera. There was no correlation between the presence of these two autoantibodies. In patients with tANA present, a statistically significant depletion of cochlear function was noted. The presence of ACA II showed no connection with hearing loss. The present study showed some alteration in immunoregulatory markers in otosclerotic patients and the possibility that ANA may play a role in the pathogenesis of otosclerosis-induced perceptive deafness.