Persistent measles virus infection and otosclerosis

The cause of otosclerosis is still unknown. Recently, measles virus involve ment has been implicated. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of measles virus RNA within the otosclerotic focus and to evaluate the per ilymphatic antibody pattern. Bone and perilymph specimens from 40 patients with the spontaneous form of otosclerosis and from control patients were in vestigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Wes tern blot techniques, and cell culture. By the use of RT-PCR, measles virus RNA could be detected in 32 patients, but not in controls. Analysis of per ilymph revealed the presence of antibodies to N, F-1, and M measles virus p roteins in all cases, and antibodies against H protein in 2 additional case s. In preosteoblasts cultured from otosclerotic bone chips, no measles viru s RNA could be amplified. We conclude that the spontaneous form of otoscler osis is, in the vast majority of cases, a measles virus-associated disease of the otic capsule.