Occupational Hearing Loss Due to Noise Exposure and its Relation with Heat Shock Protein 70 and its Antibody

Background and Objective: Noise exposure constitutes a stress on the auditory system and hence it leads to the produc-tion of heat shock proteins 70 (Hsp70). The objective of this study is to study the stress effect of occupational noise exposure on the hearing ability and the detection of this stress by measuring heat shock proteins and antibodies against heat shock proteins (anti Hsp70). Methods: 25 workers in textile industry and 25 controls, pure tone audiometry, Hsp70 and anti Hsp70 were done for both workers and controls. Results: Hearing threshold level was statistically signif-icant worse, Hsp70 and anti Hsp70 were statistically significant higher in the exposed group. Conclusions: Occupational noise exposure leads to stress on the auditory system and causes hearing loss and increased production of Hsp70 and anti Hsp70 which is thought to have a role in the pathogenesis of hearing loss.