Inner Ear, Autoimmune Disease Follow-up

  • Author: Neeraj N Mathur, MBBS, MS; Chief Editor: Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA   more...
 
Updated: Oct 16, 2009
 

Prognosis

  • Fifty percent of patients with Autoimmune ear disease have an excellent response to steroids. Those with vestibular symptoms only are in particular responsive to steroids. Those with systemic disease have a lower response rate.[4]
  • Patients who demonstrate improvement in hearing in response to immunosuppressive therapy have a better prognosis than those who do not improve. The natural history of untreated immune-mediated inner ear disease is unknown at this time.
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Patient Education

  • Inform patients with immune-mediated inner ear disease that regular follow-up care with their otolaryngologist is necessary to correlate subjective hearing fluctuations with objective audiometric data. This information helps guide immunosuppressive therapy, which needs to be monitored closely by a rheumatologist or immunologist.
  • For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Brain and Nervous System Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Ménière Disease.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Neeraj N Mathur, MBBS, MS  Professor, Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Smt SK and Kalawati, Saran Children's Hospital, University of Delhi, India; Professor and Head, Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal

Neeraj N Mathur, MBBS, MS is a member of the following medical societies: Association of Otolaryngologists of India, Cochlear Implant Group of India, Indian Medical Association, National Academy of Medical Sciences, India, Neuro-Otologic and Equlibriometric Society of India, and Royal Society of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Robert A Battista, MD, FACS  Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology, Northwestern University Medical School; Physician, Ear Institute of Chicago, LLC

Robert A Battista, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Neurotology Society, and Illinois State Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Peter S Roland, MD  Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, Professor and Chairman, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Director of Clinical Center for Auditory, Vestibular and Facial Nerve Disorders, Chief of Pediatric Otology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Adjunct Professor of Communicative Disorders, University of Texas School of Human Development

Peter S Roland, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Auditory Society, American Laryngological Rhinological and Otological Society, American Neurotology Society, American Otological Society, North American Skull Base Society, and Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons

Disclosure: Alcon labs Honoraria Speaking and teaching; GSK Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Advanced Bionics Honoraria Board membership; Cochlear corp Honoraria Board membership; Med El corp travel grants Consulting

Christopher L Slack, MD  Otolaryngology-Facial Plastic Surgery, Private Practice, Associated Coastal ENT; Medical Director, Treasure Coast Sleep Disorders

Christopher L Slack, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA  Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Head and Neck Society

Disclosure: Covidien Corp Consulting fee Consulting; US Tobacco Corporation unstricted gift unknown; Axis Three Corporation Ownership interest Consulting; Omni Biosciences Ownership interest Consulting; Sentegra Ownership interest Board membership; Syndicom Ownership interest Consulting; Oxlo Consulting; Medvoy Ownership interest Management position

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