No increased serum levels of anti food antibodies in patients with Meniere's disease

The etiology of Meniere's disease (MD) is still unknown, but it is likely t o be multifactorial, one of the factors being an immunological causation. A ntifood allergens as well as anti-baker's yeast antibodies are humoral fact ors that may be linked with allergenic disorders and other autoimmune condi tions. To determine their possible role in MD activity, we investigated 29 MD sera for the presence of antibodies against gliadin, beta -lactoglobulin , albumin, ovalbumin, soya, and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Saccharo myces cerevisiae strains using an ELISA technique. The patients were compar ed with 29 healthy individuals matched for sex and age. A serum was regarde d as positive if the absorbance was two standard deviations higher than val ues obtained with sera from healthy subjects. Historical data, including fa ctors which the patients believed to provoke their Meniere's symptoms, were obtained from patients' questionnaires. MD patients showed no significant symptoms of allergenic disorders suggesting allergies when compared to cont rols (p > 0.05). IgG and IgA antibody levels were not significantly raised in MD patients as compared with healthy controls (p > 0.05) for gliadin, be ta -lactoglobulin, soya, albumin, ovalbumin, and D. pteronyssinus and S. ce revisiae strains. These data do not convincingly support a hypothesis of in creased serum levels of antifood antibodies in patients with MD, as very fe w patients were antibody positive. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.