[Functional and morphological defects of the mucociliary system in secretory otitis media].
BACKGROUND
One of the main functions of the ciliated cells of the middle ear mucosa is the continuous drainage of fluids from the middle ear cavity to the Eustachian tube. Impaired mucociliary clearance is related to disturbed clearance of middle ear secretions and results in otitis media with effusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and the ultrastructure of cilia in young patients suffering from otitis media with effusion (OME).


METHODS
CBF and ciliary ultrastructure were studied in 36 patients with OME and 10 normal subjects without any history of middle ear effusion.


RESULTS
The CBF was significantly decreased in the study group (6.59 Hz, +/- 1.83) compared to the controls (10.68 Hz, +/- 1.87) and the incidence of ultrastructural defects was higher than in controls. The most common defect were compound cilia, random orientation of the ciliary axes, and defects of the central microtubules. Defects of the dynein arms were not observed.
Borkowski
G
G
HNO-Universitätsklinik der Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Gerd.Borkowski@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Gurr
A
A
Stark
T
T
Philippou
S
S
Sudhoff
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002923:Cilia / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000473:pathology; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008870:Microtubules / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors