title: T lymphocytes in the effusions of secretory otitis media.
abstract: Smears were made from 39 middle ear effusions in 29 children with secretory otitis media (SOM) and stained with acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) to demonstrate T lymphocytes. The effusions showed on the average 21% of the lymphocytes to be ANAE positive, while simultaneously drawn peripheral blood revealed the proportion of ANAE positive cells to be 53% (P less than 0.001, the Student's t-test). Our finding suggests that T cell dependent defence mechanisms may be locally disturbed in SOM.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004950:Esterases; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D004950:Esterases