[A preliminary study on the mechanism of immune injury of Menière's disease--type V collagen play the role of antigen].

In the serum of patients with Meniere's disease, we have found significantly increased circular immune complex with solid C1q ELISA method (P less than 0.01), significantly increased anti-human placental type-V collagen antibody with ELISA method (P less than 0.01) and significantly increased immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M with single directional radiation immunodiffusion (P less than 0.01) when compare to control group. We have also induced spontaneous nystagmus by inoculating guinea pigs with this collagen. As a result, in the autoimmune lesion of Meniere's disease, type-V collagen may have an important role as antigen.