Practical versus theoretical management of autoimmune inner ear disease

Abstract
Autoimmune inner ear disease is an uncommon but distinct clinical entity. Our ignorance of the immune mediating pathways, need of further animal model experimentation, variability of laboratory test results and of patient treatment responses illustrate how poorly we understand this disorder. The purpose of this review is to compare practical vs. theoretical management of autoimmune inner ear disease, based upon our current knowledge of the disease process and upon a review of clinical experience at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Representative case histories are presented. The following preliminary conclusions are discussed: