Decoding the impact of autoinflammatory/autoimmune diseases on inner ear harmony and hearing loss
Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases affecting the inner ear can cause symptoms such as hearing loss, imbalance, vertigo, and tinnitus, presenting demanding and often underdiagnosed conditions. Diagnostic challenges arise due to their diverse manifestations, potential long-term consequences, and...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Open Exploration Publishing Inc.
2024-02-01
|
Series: | Exploration of Immunology |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ei/Article/1003129 |
_version_ | 1797295140009672704 |
---|---|
author | Michail Athanasopoulos Pinelopi Samara Ioannis Athanasopoulos |
author_facet | Michail Athanasopoulos Pinelopi Samara Ioannis Athanasopoulos |
author_sort | Michail Athanasopoulos |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases affecting the inner ear can cause symptoms such as hearing loss, imbalance, vertigo, and tinnitus, presenting demanding and often underdiagnosed conditions. Diagnostic challenges arise due to their diverse manifestations, potential long-term consequences, and the absence of specific serological markers, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach combining clinical evaluation, audiological assessments, and imaging techniques. Various autoimmune disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome, have been implicated in immune-mediated damage to auditory structures, resulting in inner ear dysfunction. Inflammatory processes in autoinflammatory diseases like Cogan’s syndrome and relapsing polychondritis can also affect the inner ear. While the exact mechanisms of inner ear involvement in these conditions are still being studied, immune-mediated inflammation, damage to auditory structures, and vascular involvement play significant roles in auditory impairments. Treatment strategies primarily focus on immunomodulation and inflammation control using corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and targeted biologic agents to ameliorate symptoms and preserve hearing function. Hearing aids and cochlear implants may be also considered for severe hearing loss. Individualized approaches are necessary due to patient response heterogeneity. This review provides a concise overview of key autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases impacting the inner ear, highlighting clinical manifestations, diagnostics, pathophysiology, and treatment options. Early recognition and appropriate management are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. Further research is needed to understand underlying mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic targets. Collaboration between otolaryngologists, rheumatologists, and immunologists is crucial for improving the quality of life in these complex conditions. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:42:26Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-5200d8852b6e4ba5b8a3dd456da0e048 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2768-6655 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-07T21:42:26Z |
publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
publisher | Open Exploration Publishing Inc. |
record_format | Article |
series | Exploration of Immunology |
spelling | doaj.art-5200d8852b6e4ba5b8a3dd456da0e0482024-02-26T05:05:46ZengOpen Exploration Publishing Inc.Exploration of Immunology2768-66552024-02-0141738910.37349/ei.2024.00129Decoding the impact of autoinflammatory/autoimmune diseases on inner ear harmony and hearing lossMichail Athanasopoulos0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0592-6921Pinelopi Samara1https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2249-7068Ioannis Athanasopoulos2https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8439-618XOtolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Athens Pediatric Center, 15125 Athens, GreeceChildren’s Oncology Unit “Marianna V. Vardinoyannis-ELPIDA”, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, GreeceOtolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Athens Pediatric Center, 15125 Athens, GreeceAutoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases affecting the inner ear can cause symptoms such as hearing loss, imbalance, vertigo, and tinnitus, presenting demanding and often underdiagnosed conditions. Diagnostic challenges arise due to their diverse manifestations, potential long-term consequences, and the absence of specific serological markers, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach combining clinical evaluation, audiological assessments, and imaging techniques. Various autoimmune disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome, have been implicated in immune-mediated damage to auditory structures, resulting in inner ear dysfunction. Inflammatory processes in autoinflammatory diseases like Cogan’s syndrome and relapsing polychondritis can also affect the inner ear. While the exact mechanisms of inner ear involvement in these conditions are still being studied, immune-mediated inflammation, damage to auditory structures, and vascular involvement play significant roles in auditory impairments. Treatment strategies primarily focus on immunomodulation and inflammation control using corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and targeted biologic agents to ameliorate symptoms and preserve hearing function. Hearing aids and cochlear implants may be also considered for severe hearing loss. Individualized approaches are necessary due to patient response heterogeneity. This review provides a concise overview of key autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases impacting the inner ear, highlighting clinical manifestations, diagnostics, pathophysiology, and treatment options. Early recognition and appropriate management are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. Further research is needed to understand underlying mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic targets. Collaboration between otolaryngologists, rheumatologists, and immunologists is crucial for improving the quality of life in these complex conditions.https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ei/Article/1003129autoimmuneautoinflammatoryinner ear diseasehearing lossimbalancecorticosteroidscochlear implants |
spellingShingle | Michail Athanasopoulos Pinelopi Samara Ioannis Athanasopoulos Decoding the impact of autoinflammatory/autoimmune diseases on inner ear harmony and hearing loss Exploration of Immunology autoimmune autoinflammatory inner ear disease hearing loss imbalance corticosteroids cochlear implants |
title | Decoding the impact of autoinflammatory/autoimmune diseases on inner ear harmony and hearing loss |
title_full | Decoding the impact of autoinflammatory/autoimmune diseases on inner ear harmony and hearing loss |
title_fullStr | Decoding the impact of autoinflammatory/autoimmune diseases on inner ear harmony and hearing loss |
title_full_unstemmed | Decoding the impact of autoinflammatory/autoimmune diseases on inner ear harmony and hearing loss |
title_short | Decoding the impact of autoinflammatory/autoimmune diseases on inner ear harmony and hearing loss |
title_sort | decoding the impact of autoinflammatory autoimmune diseases on inner ear harmony and hearing loss |
topic | autoimmune autoinflammatory inner ear disease hearing loss imbalance corticosteroids cochlear implants |
url | https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ei/Article/1003129 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT michailathanasopoulos decodingtheimpactofautoinflammatoryautoimmunediseasesoninnerearharmonyandhearingloss AT pinelopisamara decodingtheimpactofautoinflammatoryautoimmunediseasesoninnerearharmonyandhearingloss AT ioannisathanasopoulos decodingtheimpactofautoinflammatoryautoimmunediseasesoninnerearharmonyandhearingloss |