Autoimmune inner ear disease in a young patient - an unsolvable challenge?

We report on a 21-year-old male patient, suffering from bilateral acute hearing loss and vertigo. The article presents the clinical course of autoimmune inner ear disease, including diagnostic approaches and challenges, as well as therapeutic strategies and clinical follow-up. Response to corticosteroids often decreases during the course of the disease, requiring a more targeted treatment, such as the use of biological agents to block cytokines like interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). In our case, hearing thresholds improved considerably under immune-modulating therapy, while vestibular function remained reduced. In case of autoimmune inner ear disease, therapies targeting IL-1 and TNF alpha for consecutive reduction of cytokine activity represent an effective remedy for the measurable restoration of sensory function.