Immunologic Diseases of the Ear Papers Presented at a Conference Entitled "Immunological Diseases of the Ear" Held on October 24-26, 1996 in Positano, Italy

This volume of the Italian conference summarizes and integrates a substantial body of knowledge that has arisen in recognition of the discovery that the inflamed middle ear and the normal inner ear are immunocompetent. Its theme - that the immune system in the inner and middle ear can respond to infectious agents or to self antigens to either resolve disease or prolong it - underlies the comprehensive reviews provided on such subjects as: humoral and cellular immune response in the nasopharynx, the middle ear and inner ear; immune mechanisms in several inner ear disorders; the genetics of inner ear immunologic disorders; and the role of viral infection in middle and inner ear diseases. Also discussed are the homing of lymphocytes into the middle and inner ear and potential sources of these immunocompetent cells. This volume seeks to show the importance of understanding the immunologic processes involved in otitis media and inner ear disease and for developing vaccines against these diseases.