TY - JOUR T1 - Successful Use of Adalimumab for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis with Autoimmune Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Two Birds with One Stone JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1080 LP - 1081 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.091342 VL - 37 IS - 5 AU - JADRANKA MOROVIC VERGLES AU - MISLAV RADIC AU - JELENA KOVACIC AU - LEA SALAMON Y1 - 2010/05/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/37/5/1080.abstract N2 - To the Editor:There is considerable evidence to suggest that hearing and vestibular function can be influenced by autoimmune processes. In 1979, McCabe1 reported 18 cases of patients with progressive bilateral hearing loss who responded to corticosteroids and/or cyclophosphamide. An autoimmune mechanism was suggested and he called this entity “autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss” (ASHL). A number of systemic autoimmune disorders include hearing loss and vertigo among their constellation of symptoms. Although evidence for a specific autoimmune etiology mediated by an immune response directed solely at the inner ear is elusive, it appears that autoimmune damage can also exist as an entity confined to the labyrinth. Antigenic targets of autoimmunity within the labyrinth seem to be diverse. Partly because of this, the condition is difficult to diagnose2. Various tests can be used to detect specific antibodies directed against antigens, such as 58 kDa protein3, 68 kDa protein2, and P0 protein4 … ER -