Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease

This is a condition where hearing loss and imbalance, either as dysequilibrium or vertigo, occurs as a result of a patient’s own immune system producing antibodies against their inner ear. Steroids suppress the immune system and decrease the production of antibodies. Use of steroids temporarily relieves some of the symptoms and is a useful diagnostic test.

The serum of patients can be tested for these antibodies against bovine inner ear antigen.

Treatment

Treatment involves the periodic use of steroids or the use of low doses of chemotherapeutic agents to help titrate the immune response. Plasmapheresis is a technique used to remove antibodies from the bloodstream and can be useful in certain circumstances.