MENIERES-DISEASE - ROLE OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST BASEMENT-MEMBRANE ANTIGENS

Recently, high levels of anti-collagen II (CII) antibodies have been f ound in a significant percentage of patients with Meniere's disease (M D). An immune response against other collagens (C) present in the basa l membranes has also been suggested by the presence of anti-CIV and an ti-laminin antibodies in a number of instances of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). The aim of the present study was to measure the levels and frequency of anti-CI, -CII, -CIV, -CV, and anti-laminin antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 45 patients affected by MD, 24 patients with PSS, 24 patie nts with RP, and 25 normal subjects. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-CII a ntibodies were detected in 15.5% of MD sera, and 6.6% of MD sera were positive on CV, 11.1% were positive on laminin, 4.4% were positive on CI, and 4.4% were positive on CIV. A low incidence of anti-CI, -CII, - CIV, -CV, and antilaminin antibodies was found. Positive sera did not react on immunoblot with peptides obtained by cyanogen bromide (CNBr) digestion of CII. These results contrast with those of Yoo, ct al.; di fferences in the washing procedure used and in the ethnic background o f the patients may explain this divergence. Our results would seem to indicate that autoimmune responses do not play a role in the pathogene sis of MD.