The role of free oxygen radicals on the development of otitis media with effusion.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine if free oxygen radicals (FORs) and antioxidant enzyme activities have some role in pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children with adenoid hyperplasia.


METHODS
Seventy-four patients were enrolled in three groups of this study. The study group (Group I) included 26 patients who had adenoidectomy with ventilation tube placement due to chronic OME. The control adenoid group (Group II) consisted of 28 age-matched patients who had adenoidectomy without ventilation tube insertion. Twenty children were included in the healthy control group (Group III). Erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities were investigated in the venous blood sample.


RESULTS
Erythrocyte MDA level and GSH-Px enzyme activity in the blood samples of study group (Group I) were significantly higher than those of Group II and Group III (P < 0.05). SOD enzyme activity in the blood samples of Group I was significantly lower than Group II (P < 0.05), and were significantly higher than Group III (P < 0.05). CAT enzyme activity of Group I was significantly lower than that of Group III (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference between Group I and Group II regarding CAT antioxidant enzyme activity (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The inflammation of the middle ear increases the level of FORs in erythrocyte. FOR level is normally maintained at a steady state by antioxidant enzymes. When the antioxidant defense system is weakened, the increased FORs may contribute to OME formation. We supposed that, antioxidant vitamins C and E, and scavenger enzymes such as CAT, SOD and GSH-Px may be added in the management of OME.
Yariktas
Murat
M
Head and Neck Surgery Department, School of Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University, Yayla M. 1604 S 5/3, Isparta 32100, Turkey. myariktas@hotmail.com
Doner
Fehmi
F
Dogru
Harun
H
Yasan
Hasan
H
Delibas
Namik
N
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005609:Free Radicals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014810:Vitamin E; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid