Autoantibodies in inner ear disease.

The etiopathogenesis of many inner ear disorders still remains idiopathic. Immunological mechanisms are attracting attention in relation to a number of these diseases. Some cases are believed to be autoimmune in origin. The present study was conducted to determine whether patients with inner ear disorders produce antibodies that may be pathologic to the inner car or result from its damage. Sera from 100 patients with various inner ear disorders were tested for autoantibodies using the indirect immunofluorescence test. Inner ear tissue preparations from healthy guinea pigs were used as antigen substrates. Adequate tissue and serological controls were applied. Two groups of antibodies were detected; antibodies directed against the inner ear tissues (18%) and antibodies directed against different tissue/cellular elements (41%). A wide variety of inner ear antibodies were found, though no common type manifested itself. Meniere's disease was the most common clinical diagnosis in the antibody-positive group.