ABSTRACT
In addition to the history, laboratory findings may indicate an autoimmune etiology in the patient with sudden hearing loss. Nonspecific markers of immune system up-regulation include a complement panel and ESR in addition to rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibody, antimicrosomal antibody, and anticardiolipin antibody. The presence or absence of four specific antigens has been associated with AISNHL: the presence of 835, CW4, and CW7 and the absence of DR4 (30). In addition to these markers, western blot analysis for antibodies against an inner-ear 68-kD protein has been demonstrated by Harris and Sharp (31). Disher et al. (32) found this protein to be present in rv50% of patients with possible AISNHL. The antibody in question may be the monoclonal antibody KHRI-3 which binds to an inner-ear-supporting cell antigen and has been demonstrated to precipitate a 68-70 kD antigen. The presence of antibodies to inner ear antigens supports the concept that an autoimmune process is responsible for inner ear disease in these patients.
