New prospects in the diagnosis and treatment of immune-mediated inner ear disease

Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) represents a very fertile research field and the advancements in the understanding of this disease have a direct application not only in patients affected with this condition but also in other inner ear disorders that share the same injury mechanism, damage to the inner ear hair cells. AIED also presents many challenges that have still to be overcome. Firstly, access to the inner ear is limited, as many interventions such as biopsies can result in great irreversible damage. Secondly, there are no completely specific markers for AIED. Lack of a definitive diagnosis can result in the treatment of patients not affected with the disease and, therefore, no response. Finally, some patients become refractory to glucocorticoids and new therapies are needed. This review offers an overview of the animal models that have contributed to the understanding of AIED pathophysiology, the value of currently available diagnostic tests, and therapeutic options, with a special focus on new therapies for non responders or patients refractory to glucocorticoids. Among these new options for therapy, biological agents have been tested recently, whereas gene and stem cell therapy may have a role in the future. The intratympanic route of administration avoids the systemic side effects associated with currently used drugs, and may become a more frequent approach in the future.