title: Investigation of gastric pepsinogen in middle ear fluid of children with glue ear.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of pepsinogen in middle ear effusion (MEE) supports the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and otitis media with effusion (OME). Measurement of pepsin/pepsinogen can be considered as a simple and reliable method for assesment of reflux in children. However, further research is needed to establish a definite association between GER and OME before beginning antireflux treatment in the management of MEE.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between GER and chronic OME, and to confirm the presence of gastric enzyme in the MEE of children with OME.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study. MEE and blood samples were obtained from 42 children undergoing tympanostomy tube placement. Total pepsinogen concentrations of effusions and serum samples were measured with a commercial ELISA using a human pepsinogen I specific antibody. Albumin levels of effusions and serum samples were also measured with ELISA for comparison with pepsinogen levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Measurable pepsinogen was present in all MEEs from patients, with levels higher than the serum values. The difference between the levels of pepsinogen measured in MEE and serum was statistically significant (p < 0.01), but albumin levels were higher in serum than in MEE and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01).
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey. semazertoros@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sema Zer
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Toros
authors.forename: Ahmet Burak
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Toros
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ozel
authors.forename: Banu Er
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Çatal
authors.forename: Vefa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kiniş
authors.forename: Aylin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zorlu
authors.forename: Tülay Erden
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Habeşoğlu
authors.forename: Bariş
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Naiboğlu
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Egeli
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D020116:Pepsinogen A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D020116:Pepsinogen A