Otosclerosis

Among white adults, otosclerosis is the single most common cause of hearing impairment (Dalhqvist et al., 1991; Gordon, 1989). The disease is caused by abnormal bone homeostasis of the otic capsule, which usually results in a conductive hearing loss due to fixation of the stapes footplate, although sensorineural hearing loss also may occur. The etiology of otosclerosis is unknown, and both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated. Although the genetics of otosclerosis are controversial, the majority of studies indicate autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance. Using two large families showing this type of Mendelian inheritance pattern, we have localized two otosclerosis-causing genes, OTSC1 (Tomek et al., 1998) and OTSC2 (Van Den Bogaert et al., 2001). We also have shown that at least one additional locus, OTSC3, exists.

Molecular Otolaryngology Research Laboratories