The immunomediated sensorineural hearing loss (ISHL) is characterized as an asymmetric and progressive sensorineural hearing loss. Tree patients with ISHL were studied, regarding clinical aspects, diagnostic tests, treatment options and disease evolution. They presented whether positive response to immunosuppressive therapy or positiviness to Western Blot test for hsp 70-68kD. Two patients presented rapidly progressive sensorineural hearing loss, associated to vestibular symptoms and the other presented unilateral sudden deafness. No patient reacted to rheumatological testes, and one presented increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. None satisfactorily responded to corticotherapy, but two presented clinical improvement with other immunosuppressive therapies. The ISHL diagnosis is based on clinical aspects and on the positive response to therapeutic testes with immunosupressor drugs. The Western Blot test for hsp 70-68 kD, with 42% sensitivity and 90% specificity, is the only specific laboratorial exam for ISHL. One patient presented positiviness to this exam and did not responded to immunosuppressive therapy. Two patients with negative tests satisfactorily responded to immunosuppressive therapy. The low sensitivity and high costs of Western Blot test represent difficulties to the spread use of it. The early introduction of treatment has a major importance in the diagnosis of ISHL and to increase the auditory prognosis.
sensorineural hearing loss; autoimmune inner ear disease; Western Blot