Autoimmune
inner ear disease or "AIED" consists
of a syndrome of progressive
hearing
loss and/or
dizziness which is caused by
antibodies or immune cells
which are attacking the inner
ear.
The classic picture is reduction of
hearing accompanied by
tinnitus (ringing, hissing,
roaring) which occurs over a few
months. Variants are bilateral
attacks of hearing loss and tinnitus
which resemble
Meniere's disease, and attacks
of dizziness accompanied by abnormal
blood tests for self-antibodies.
About 50% of patients with AIED have
imbalance.
The immune
system is complex and there are
several ways that it can damage the
inner ear. Both allergy and
traditional "autoimmune disease"
such as
Ankylosing spondylitis,
Behcet's, Systemic Lupus
Erythematosis (SLE), Sjoegren's
syndrome (dry eye syndrome),
Cogan's disease, ulcerative
colitis, Wegener's granulomatosis,
relapsing polychondritis, rheumatoid
arthritis, and scleroderma can cause
or be associated with AIED.
source
| |
What is Meniere's
disease ?
In 1861, the French
physician Prosper
Meniere described a
condition which now
bears his name.
Meniere's disease is a
disorder of the inner
ear which causes
episodes of vertigo,
ringing in the ears
(tinnitus), a feeling of
fullness or pressure in
the ear, and fluctuating
hearing loss. In figure
1, the area of the ear
affected is the entire
labyrinth, which
includes both the
semicircular canals and
the cochlea.
A typical attack of
Meniere's disease is
preceded by fullness in
one ear. Hearing
fluctuation or changes
in tinnitus may also
precede an attack. A
Meniere's episode
generally involves
severe vertigo
(spinning), imbalance,
nausea and vomiting. The
average attack lasts two
to four hours. Following
a severe attack, most
people find that they
are exhausted and must
sleep for several hours.
There is a large amount
of variability in the
duration of symptoms.
Some people experience
brief "shocks", and
others have constant
unsteadiness.
 |
|
Normal
membranous
labyrinth |
Dilated
membranous
labyrinth in
Meniere's
disease (Hydrops) |
|
| The most prevalent
opinion is that an acute
attack of Meniere's
disease results from
fluctuating pressure of
the fluid within the
inner ear. A system of
membranes, called the
membranous labyrinth,
contains a fluid called
endolymph. The membranes
can become dilated like
a balloon when pressure
increases. This is
called "hydrops".
One way for this to
happen is when the
drainage system, called
the endolymphatic duct
or sac is blocked. In
some cases, the
endolymphatic duct may
be obstructed by scar
tissue, or may be narrow
from birth. In some
cases there may be too
much fluid secreted by
the stria vascularis. |
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acknowledgement of source"
Hain, TC.
http://www.dizziness-and-hearing.com.
8 Feb, 2008