Pathogenesis (development of disease)
The cause of otosclerosis has not been conclusively determined. The disease runs in families.
Otosclerosis results in bone remodeling processes at the ossicles with fixation of the stapes at the oval window. The result is a conductive hearing loss (middle ear hearing loss).
If the otosclerosis affects the cochlea (snail), a sensorineural hearing loss (sensorineural hearing loss) results.
Etiology (causes)
Biographic causes
- Genetic burden from parents, grandparents, unspecified – several gene loci have been identified recently.
- Skin color: people with lighter skin color are more often affected than people with darker skin color.
- Hormonal factors – pregnancy; menopause (menopause in women).
Disease-related causes
Blood, blood-forming organs – immune system (D50-D90).
- Autoimmune processes, unspecified
Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).
- Metabolic factors, unspecified
Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).
- Inflammatory factors such as morbillivirus (measles virus) are discussed
