Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c4f8m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T13:53:55.781Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Infliximab for autoimmune inner ear disease: case report and literature review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 October 2013

R L Heywood ,
S Hadavi ,
S Donnelly  and
N Patel
R L Heywood*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, UK
S Hadavi
Affiliation:
Department of Rheumatology, Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, UK
S Donnelly
Affiliation:
Department of Rheumatology, Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, UK
N Patel
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Miss Rebecca L Heywood, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Whipps Cross University Hospital, Whipps Cross Road, London E11 1NR, UK E-mail: rebecca_heywood@yahoo.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives:

This study aimed (1) to report the long-term effects of infliximab, a murine monoclonal antibody directed against tumour necrosis factor-α, on autoimmune inner ear disease, and (2) to discuss dilemmas surrounding the long-term management of autoimmune inner ear disease.

Case report:

A 49-year-old man presented with sudden-onset, left-sided, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo. He was prescribed oral prednisolone, with benefit. Over several subsequent months, he experienced frequent relapses and progressive deterioration of high-frequency hearing bilaterally. Multiple agents failed to stabilise his condition. Following infliximab treatment, there was a documented and sustained improvement in his hearing and tinnitus. He stopped the treatment after 46 weeks, with rapid relapse of his condition. His hearing recovered quickly again after recommencing infliximab.

Conclusion:

The benefits of prolonged infliximab use and potential side effects must be balanced against allowing the disease to take its course, with progressive deafness. Randomised controlled trials are required to assess infliximab's optimal duration of use, long-term efficacy and safety in the treatment of autoimmune inner ear disease.

Keywords

Autoimmune DiseasesTumor Necrosis Factor-AlphaAntibodiesMonoclonalHearing Loss, Sensorineural
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 127 , Issue 11 , November 2013 , pp. 1145 - 1147
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1McCabe, BF. Autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1979;88:585–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Harris, JP, Sharp, PA. Inner ear autoantibodies in patients with rapidly progressing sensorineural hearing loss. Laryngoscope 1990;100:516–24CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Nair, TS, Kozma, KE, Hoefling, NL, Kommareddi, PK, Ueda, Y, Gong, TW et al. Identification and characterization of choline transporter-like protein 2, an inner ear glycoprotein of 68 and 70 kDa that is the target of antibody-induced hearing loss. J Neurosci 2004;24:1772–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4Keithley, EM, Wang, X, Barkdull, GC. Tumor necrosis factor α can induce recruitment of inflammatory cells to the cochlea. Otol Neurotol 2008;29:854–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Satoh, H, Firestein, GS, Billings, PB, Harris, JP, Keithley, EM. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, an initiator, and etanercept, an inhibitor of cochlear inflammation. Laryngoscope 2002;112:1627–34CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Wang, X, Truong, T, Billings, PB, Harris, JP, Keithley, EM. Blockage of immune-mediated inner ear damage by etanercept. Otol Neurotol 2003;24:52–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Lobo, D, Trinidad, A, Garcia-Berrocal, JR, Verdaguer, JM, Ramirez-Camacho, R. TNFalpha blockers do not improve the hearing recovery obtained with glucocorticoid therapy in an autoimmune experimental labyrinthitis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2006;263:622–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Aminpour, S, Tinling, SP, Brodie, HA. Role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha in sensorineural hearing loss after bacterial meningitis. Otol Neurotol 2005;26:602–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Staeker, H, Lefebvre, PP. Autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss improved by tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockade: a case report. Acta Otolaryngol 2002;122:684–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10Morovic, Vergles J, Radic, M, Kovacic, J, Salamon, L. Successful use of adalimumab for treating rheumatoid arthritis with autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss: two birds with one stone. J Rheumatol 2010;37:1080–1Google Scholar
11Street, I, Jobanputra, P, Proops, DW. Etanercept, a tumour necrosis factor alpha receptor antagonist, and methotrexate in acute sensorineural hearing loss. J Laryngol Otol 2006;120:1064–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Van Wijk, F, Staecker, H, Keithley, E, Lefebvre, PP. Local perfusion of the tumor necrosis factor alpha blocker infliximab to the inner ear improves autoimmune neurosensory hearing loss. Audiol Neurotol 2006;11:357–65CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13Rahman, MU, Poe, DS, Choi, HK. Etanercept therapy for immune-mediated cochleovestibular disorders: preliminary results in a pilot study. Otol Neurotol 2001;22:619–24CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Matteson, EL, Choi, HK, Poe, DS, Wise, C, Lowe, VJ, McDonald, TJ et al. Etanercept therapy for immune-mediated cochleovestibular disorders: a multi-center, open-label, pilot study. Arthritis Rheum 2005;53:337–42CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Cohen, S, Shoup, A, Weisman, MH, Harris, J. Etanercept treatment for autoimmune inner ear disease: results of a pilot placebo-controlled study. Otol Neurotol 2005;26:903–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16Liu, YC, Rubin, R, Sataloff, RT. Treatment-refractory autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss: response to infliximab. Ear Nose Throat J 2011;90:23–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17Van den Brande, JM, Braat, H, van den Brink, GR, Versteeg, HH, Bauer, CA, Hoedemaeker, I et al. Infliximab but not etanercept induces apoptosis in lamina propria T-lymphocytes from patients with Crohn's disease. Gastroenterology 2003;124:1774–85CrossRefGoogle Scholar