Analysis of the T Lymphocyte Subsets Using Flow Cytometry in Sudden Deafness.
- Author:
Cheon Kyoo CHEONG
1
;
Seong Kook PARK
;
Hong Wook CHO
;
Jae Wook EOM
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, Inje University, Pusan Paik Hospital, Pusan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Sudden deafness;
T lymphocyte;
Immune system
- MeSH:
Cell Count;
Female;
Flow Cytometry*;
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural;
Hearing Loss, Sudden*;
Humans;
Immune System;
Lymphocytes;
Male;
T-Lymphocyte Subsets*;
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2000;43(6):582-587
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although there are a number of reports concerned with the role of immunity in the sudden onset of progressive sensorineural hearing loss, there are only a few references dealing with the involvement of immuneme- mediated mechanism in sudden deafness. This study was performed to define the alteration of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in a group of patients with sudden deafness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out prior to the start of and after the steroid therapy. Thirty two patients (18 men and 14 women : mean age, 43.19 years) were compared with 15 healthy control subjects (7 men and 8 women : mean age, 44 years). Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their responses to the steroid therapy. RESULTS: A decreased number of both CD4' helper cells (38.44% vs 42.36%; p < 0.05) was observed in the patient group compared with those in the control group. In the group of patients who showed good response to the steroid therapy, there was a tendency toward normalization of the CD4 (pretreatment, 34.41%; posttreatment, 43.91%) cell counts, with a slight decrease in the CD8' population (pretreatment, 20.66%: posttreatment, 19.16%). However, there was no significant increment in patients with the poorer response when there was a increase in the CD4' (pretreatment, 32.12% ; posttreatment, 38.6%) cell counts after the steroid therapy. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that there is significant abnormality in the subpopulations of lymphocytes in patients with sudden hearing loss, suggesting the immune system as a possible etiopathogenic factor in this entity.
