Substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide levels in middle ear effusions of children.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report demonstrating high levels of substance P (SP) that inversely correlate with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels in middle ear effusions (MEEs) of patients with otitis media with effusion (OME). Increased SP and decreased VIP levels might play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic OME.


OBJECTIVE
The etiology of OME is multifactorial, and neurogenic inflammation may play a significant role. SP and VIP levels were not evaluated previously in MEEs of children with OME.


METHODS
Fifty patients aged 2-12 years (mean age 5.24 ± 2.64) were included in the study. MEEs were classified as mucoid or serous based on the gross appearance. SP and VIP levels were determined using ELISA.


RESULTS
High levels of SP were detected in MEEs. In addition SP levels were significantly higher in serous samples (2910.55 ± 307.96 vs 2218.55 ± 262.30 pg/ml). There were also age-dependent changes, such that SP levels were significantly higher in children aged 2-3 years compared with those who were 4-5 and 6-12 years old. VIP levels were undetectable in 30% of patients and the mean level of VIP was 50.91 ± 16.01 pg/ml in serous middle ear effusions and 54.86 ± 15.91 pg/ml in mucoid MEEs.
Department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Turkey. hulinar@yahoo.com
Hulya
H
Eyigor
Ustun
U
Osma
Mustafa Deniz
MD
Yilmaz
Mete
M
Eyigor
Meral
M
Gultekin
Nuray
N
Erin
D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide