Anti-68 kD (hsp-70) Antibodies, Western Blot

Sensorineural hearing loss, commonly referred to as nerve deafness, may be caused by genetic or acquired factors, such as infections, or it can be immunologically mediated. In the majority of SNHL cases, no cause is apparent and such cases are referred to as idiopathic SNHL. Serum antibody tests to anti-68-kD inner ear antigen can aid in identifying these cases. Using the Western blot technique in patients with progressive SNHL found 35% to be positive for a specific anticochlear antibody in their serum. Recent studies have shown that 32% of patients with idiopathic bilateral SNHL are positive by Western blot. Anti-68-kD (hsp-70) antibodies also occur in approximately 60% of patients with bilateral and 35% of patients with unilateral Ménière's syndrome, an inner ear syndrome that affects balance and hearing.