RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IMMUNE-COMPLEX AND TOTAL HEMOLYTIC COMPLEMENT INENDOLYMPHATIC HYDROPS

Recently there has been considerable investigation into the relationsh ip of the immune system and immune disorder to Meniere's disease. Immu noglobulin G (IgG) antibody and complement are both present in endolym phatic fluid and it is possible that endolymphatic hydrops is due to i mmune complex. The authors' results show that patients with endolympha tic hydrops had elevated levels of circulating immune complex (CIC) of IgG (24.80 mu g/mL). The levels of functional complement activity (CH 50) were significantly lower in patients (249.7 HU) than in controls. Circulating levels of CIC and CH50 Were positively correlated. Immunog lobulin G, immunoglobulin M (IgM), and subpopulation of B lymphocytes were elevated, but there was no alteration in subpopulations of T-help er, T-suppressor, and natural killer (Mt) cells in peripheral blood.