[Experimental autoimmune labyrinthitis: evaluation of various models in guinea pigs].

Evidence of hearing loss in humans with systemic autoimmune disease has suggested the possibility of isolated forms of deafness originated by a autoimmune mechanism. Several authors reject McCabe's (1) proposed clinical description based mainly on response to treatment and have attempted to develop an animal model of autoimmune deafness. A comparative analysis was made of several experimental models of sensorineural hearing loss in guinea pigs developed in our laboratory for the study of this problem.