J. Koide

Serological and Clinical Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in Patients with Sudden Deafness

A serosurvey for antibodies against type 1 and type 2 herpes simplex virus (HSV) was performed in consecutive sera collected from 61 patients with sudden deafness. A positive test for neutralizing antibody to type 1 HSV was found in 80% of patients and 77% of controls, a non-significant value. Almost all the patients possessing neutralizing antibody had complement-fixing antibody too, which some controls would have lost in the course of time. The kinetic survey of the antibody titers during the clinical course demonstrated constant levels of these antibodies. It is suggested that there may be some relationship of HSV to sudden deafness and that reactivation of a latent infection may play an important role in the etiology of this disease. We found some relationship between the serological data and the clinical findings with respect to hearing recovery.

Morphological Changes in the Cochlear Aqueduct Following Herpes Simplex Virus Inoculation into the Subarachnoid Space

Type 1 herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) was inoculated into the subarachnoid space through the cisterna magna of guinea pigs to study morphological changes of the inner ear and the ability of the cochlear aqueduct to protect the inner ear. Although most of the animals developed clinical manifestations of meningoencephalitis within a few days after inoculation, Preyers reflex remained intact. Scanning electron microscopy revealed some significant changes in the cochlear aqueduct. Lymphocytes and macrophages were predominant, with narrowing of reticular tissue spaces caused by the swelling of the periotic duct tissue. The cribriform structure of the internal orifice of the cochlear aqueduct appeared to be completely obstructed, whereas it was normal in the presence of bacterial infection as previously reported (1). The morphological changes were confined to the cochlear aqueduct.