Human leukocytic antigens in autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss.

Susceptibility to many autoimmune diseases is associated with inheritance of certain Human Leukocytic Antigens (HLA), determinants which have become diagnostic or prognostic markers. In this study of HLA antigen frequencies among patients with autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss, 39 patients with this otologic disorder were typed for HLA-A, B, C, and DR antigens. A significant increase of Cw7 occurred in 51% of patients compared to 21% of 627 matched controls (relative risk, 3.95). Trends towards increased frequencies of Cw4, B35 and reduced frequency of DR4 were also observed. These data suggest a possible immunogenetic predisposition to this otologic disorder. The presence of Cw7 may facilitate the diagnosis of autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss.