Decreased measles virus-neutralizing activity in sera from otosclerotic patients.

Hypothesis: Any kind of depressed systemic anti-measles reaction can lead to the induction of a local immune response in the inner ear and possibly to reactivation of bone turnover in this region.

Methods: Different dilutions of sera were tested for neutralizing activity against a constant viral concentration. The ability of measles virus to infect and replicate in the cell monolayer was detected by enumeration of living and growing cells with a colored reaction.