title: The role of allergy in the etiology of otitis media with effusion; immune system and cytokines.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Firat University, Elaziğ, Turkey. keleserol@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keleş
authors.forename: Sinasi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yalçin
authors.forename: Vedat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bulut
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaygusuz
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karlidağ
authors.forename: H Cengiz
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Alpay
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma