Immune-Mediated Inner Ear Disease: Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches / Enfermedad inmunomediada del oído interno: diagnóstico y enfoques terapéuticos

Introduction: Immune Mediated Inner Ear Disease (IMIED) is a rare form of sensorineural bilateral hearing loss, usually progressing in weeks to months and responsive to immunosuppressive treatment. Despite recent advances, there is no consensus on diagnosis and optimal treatment. Methods: A review of articles on IMIED from the last 10 years was conducted using PubMed(R) database. Results: IMIED is a rare disease, mostly affecting middle aged women. It may be a primary ear disease or secondary to autoimmune systemic disease. A dual immune response (both cellular and humoral) seems to be involved. Cochlin may be the inner ear protein targeted in this disease. Distinction from other (core common) forms of neurosensory hearing loss is a challenge. Physical examination is mandatory for exclusion of other causes of hearing loss; audiometry identifies characteristic hearing curves. Laboratory and imaging studies are controversial since no diagnostic marker is available. Conclusion: Despite recent research, IMIED diagnosis remains exclusive. Steroids are the mainstay treatment; other therapies need further investigation. For refractory cases, cochlear implantation is an option and with good relative outcome

Introducción: La enfermedad inmunomediada del oído interno (EIMOI) es una forma rara de pérdida auditiva bilateral sensorineural, que progresa generalmente en semanas a meses y responde al tratamiento inmunosupresor. A pesar de los recientes avances, no hay consenso sobre el diagnóstico y el tratamiento óptimo. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión de artículos sobre la EAOI de los últimos 10 años utilizando la base de datos PubMed(R). Resultados: La EIMOI es una enfermedad rara que afecta principalmente a las mujeres de 2 a 50 años de edad. Puede ser una enfermedad del oído primaria o secundaria a una enfermedad sistémica autoinmune. Parece estar involucrada una respuesta inmune dual (tanto celular como humoral). La coclina parece ser la proteína del oído interno diana en esta enfermedad. La distinción de otras formas de pérdida de audición neurosensorial es un desafío. El examen físico es obligatorio para la exclusión de otras causas de pérdida de la audición; la audiometría identifica curvas características de pérdida de audición. Los estudios de laboratorio y de imágenes son controvertidos, ya que no hay marcador diagnóstico disponible. Conclusión: A pesar de la investigación reciente, el diagnóstico de la EAOI sigue siendo de exclusión. Los esteroides siguen siendo el pilar del tratamiento; otras terapéuticas necesitan más investigación. Para los casos refractarios, la implantación coclear es una opción con buen resultado relativo

Immune-Mediated Inner Ear Disease: Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

INTRODUCTION: Immune Mediated Inner Ear Disease (IMIED) is a rare form of sensorineural bilateral hearing loss, usually progressing in weeks to months and responsive to immunosuppressive treatment. Despite recent advances, there is no consensus on diagnosis and optimal treatment. METHODS: A review of articles on IMIED from the last 10 years was conducted using PubMed® database. RESULTS: IMIED is a rare disease, mostly affecting middle aged women. It may be a primary ear disease or secondary to autoimmune systemic disease. A dual immune response (both cellular and humoral) seems to be involved. Cochlin may be the inner ear protein targeted in this disease. Distinction from other (core common) forms of neurosensory hearing loss is a challenge. Physical examination is mandatory for exclusion of other causes of hearing loss; audiometry identifies characteristic hearing curves. Laboratory and imaging studies are controversial since no diagnostic marker is available. CONCLUSION: Despite recent research, IMIED diagnosis remains exclusive. Steroids are the mainstay treatment; other therapies need further investigation. For refractory cases, cochlear implantation is an option and with good relative outcome.

Physicians Experiencing Intense Emotions While Seeing Their Patients: What Happens?

OBJECTIVES: Physicians often deal with emotions arising from both patients and themselves; however, management of intense emotions when they arise in the presence of patients is overlooked in research. The aim of this study is to inspect physicians' intense emotions in this context, how these emotions are displayed, coping strategies used, adjustment behaviors, and the impact of the emotional reactions on the physician-patient relationship. METHODS: A total of 127 physicians completed a self-report survey, built from a literature review. Participants were recruited in 3 different ways: through a snowball sampling procedure, via institutional e-mails, and in person during service meetings. RESULTS: Fifty-two physicians (43.0%) reported experiencing intense emotions frequently. Although most physicians (88.6%) tried to control their reactions, several reported not controlling themselves. Coping strategies to deal with the emotion at the moment included behavioral and cognitive approaches. Only the type of reaction (but not the emotion's valence, duration, relative control, or coping strategies used) seemed to affect the physician-patient relationship. Choking-up/crying, touching, smiling, and providing support were significantly associated with an immediate positive impact. Withdrawing from the situation, imposing, and defending oneself were associated with a negative impact. Some reactions also had an extended impact into future interactions. CONCLUSION: Experiencing intense emotions in the presence of patients was frequent among physicians, and the type of reaction affected the clinical relationship. Because many physicians reported experiencing long-lasting emotions, these may have important clinical implications for patients visiting physicians while these emotions last. Further studies are needed to clarify these results.