| abstract |
Specific Cytokine Antagonists, including TNF antagonists and/or Interleukin-1 antagonists, are used as novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of hearing loss, including presbycusis and other forms of sensorineural hearing loss. The present invention provides a method for inhibiting the action of TNF and/or IL-1 antagonists for treating hearing loss in a human by administering a TNF antagonist and/or an IL-1 antagonist for reducing the inflammation affecting the auditory apparatus of said human, or for modulating the immune response affecting the auditory apparatus of said human, by administering a therapeutically effective dosage level to said human of a TNF antagonist and/or an IL-1 antagonist. Administration may be systemic, through the subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral, or intravenous routes; or by delivering an anatomically localized application in the region of the head. The TNF antagonist is selected from the group consisting of etanercept, infliximab, D2E7, CDP 571, or thalidomide; and the IL-1 antagonist is either IL-1 RA or IL-1R type II receptor. Antiviral agents may be added for treating certain patients. |