Clinical and biochemical factors that affect DPOAE expressions in children with middle ear effusion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical and biochemical characteristics of middle ear effusion (MEE) that affect distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) responsiveness and to investigate the possible role of DPOAE as a tool to know the characteristics of MEE preoperatively.


METHODS
Prospective analysis of children with MEE effusion in a tertiary referral center. DPOAE results were compared with other audiologic tests, the character, amount of MEE, the amount of total protein, and TNF-alpha in the effusion.


RESULTS
The negative DPOAE with MEE group had much more thick mucous fluid in their middle ears than that of positive DPOAE with MEE group. The levels of total protein and TNF-alpha in MEE were significantly higher in the negative DPOAE group than those of the positive DPOAE group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The measurement of DPOAE in the children with MEE may predict the amount and the characteristics of MEE, which may help to decide the treatment methods.
Park
Shi-Nae
SN
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kangnam St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Kyung-Ho
KH
Park
So Young
SY
Jeon
Eun-Ju
EJ
Chang
Ki-Hong
KH
Yeo
Sang W
SW
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000378:metabolism*; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D011506:Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha