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Auto-immune Inner Ear Disease

Auto-immune inner ear disease is a condition in which hearing loss and imbalance—manifested either as disequilibrium or vertigo—occurs as a result of a patient’s own immune system producing antibodies against his/her inner ear.

Condition type link name
auto-immune-inner-ear-disease
Page Condition Type
Page Condition - Overview
Overview
Page Condition - Etiology
Etiology
Page Condition - Complications
Complications
Page Condition - Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Page Condition - Treatment
Treatment
Page Condition - Outcomes
Outcomes
Page Condition - Glossary
Glossary

Etiology for Auto-immune Inner Ear Disease

As with any auto-immune disease, the cause is often poorly understood.  One possible theory is that the antigens found in the inner ear are localized and “protected” enough that the rest of the body may never be exposed to them.  A similar phenomenon is found in the eye.   If these antigens are released after, for example, an infection or surgery, the body may see these antigens as foreign and mount an attack against them.  This “attack” causes an inflammatory reaction and can cause the associated symptoms of hearing loss and balance dysfunction.

About Dr. Prasad

Dr. Sanjay Prasad MD FACS is a board certified physician and surgeon with over thirty-two years of sub-specialty experience in Otology, Neurotology, advanced head and neck oncologic surgery, and cranial base surgery. He is chief surgeon and founder of the private practice, Metropolitan NeuroEar Group, located in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area.