Detection of herpesvirus DNAs in perilymph obtained from patients with sensorineural hearing loss by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Objectives/hypothesis: Perilymph and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) were evaluated for the presence of DNA from cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and human herpesvirus (HHV)6.

Study Design: A prospective clinical study.

Methods: The subjects were 14 patients who underwent cochlear implantation and 1 patient who underwent gentamicin injection in the inner ear. We attempted to detect viral DNA from perilymph and PBMCs by real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR).

Results: CMV DNA was detected in two perilymph specimens obtained from patients who were diagnosed as congenitally symptomatic CMV infection, although no CMV DNA was detected in PBMCs. Neither HSV DNA nor HHV6 DNA was detected in any other perilymph specimens. CMV DNA was detected in three PBMC samples, HSV DNA was detected in two samples, and HHV6 DNA was detected in six samples.

Conclusion: CMV may persistently infect the inner ear of patients with congenital CMV infection, and rtPCR analysis may prove to be a valuable tool for investigating the etiology of SNHL.