The role of allergy in the etiology of otitis media with effusion; immune system and cytokines.
OBJECTIVE
Otitis media with effusion (OME) is one of the major causes of hearing loss in childhood. In this study, the role and the importance of allergy in the etiology of OME was evaluated with reference to the immune system and the cytokines.


METHODS
Seventy-eight ears of 59 patients who had undergone myringotomy with the diagnosis of OME were included in this study. Serum samples of 26 healthy children who were in the same age group and were living in the same region under similar socioeconomic circumstances were examined as the control group.


RESULTS
Interferon (IFN)-gamma levels were significantly lower and IL-4 and IgE levels were significantly higher in the serum samples of the patient group when compared with those of the control group (p<0.05). A positive correlation was found between IL-4 and IgE in the serum samples of patients (p<0.01). However, there were negative correlations between IFN-gamma and both IgE and IL-4 levels, that were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
T-helper polarization suggests that allergy may have a role in the etiology of OME. Therefore, it should be kept in mind in the treatment of OME.
Keleş
Erol
E
Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Firat University, Elaziğ, Turkey. keleserol@yahoo.com
Yalçin
Sinasi
S
Bulut
Vedat
V
Kaygusuz
Irfan
I
Karlidağ
Turgut
T
Alpay
H Cengiz
HC
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma