title: Glucocorticosteroids in allergic inflammation: clinical benefits in otitis media with effusion.
abstract: Allergy and otitis media with effusion are often considered as comorbidities. Evidence points to a role for allergy in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion in reports of increased prevalence of allergy in patients with otitis media with effusion and presence of late-phase allergic-response inflammatory mediators and cytokines in the middle-ear effusion of allergic subjects. However, the exact mechanism remains unknown. Many speculations have been made, but well-controlled studies to prove the efficacy of anti-allergic medication in the treatment of otitis media with effusion are lacking. Therefore, we do not recommend the use of glucocorticosteroids in allergic patients with otitis media with effusion.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. ingeborg.dhooge@Ugent.be
authors.forename: Ingeborg
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dhooge
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verbruggen
authors.forename: Liesbet
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vandenbulcke
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids