Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2000 Aug;43(8):808-812.

Characterization of Cytokines Present in Pediatric Recurrent Otitis Media with Effusion: Comparison of Allergy and Nonallergy

• Jang CH

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Earlier studies documented the presence of several cytokines in middlle ear effusions (MEEs) of humans and experimental animals. Some of these studies reported association between cytokine levels and certain clinical factors. Rut studies on association between cytokine levels and allergy in MEE are very rare. To acertain the role of allergy in the pathogenesis of recurrent otitis media with effusion(ROME) through the characterization of cytokines.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
MEE samples were collected from patients with allergy (20 ears) and without allergy (15 ears). They were assayed for interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) using sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS
The levels of IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in the allergy group were statistically higher than in the nonallergy group. The level of IL-2 in the allergy group was slightly higher than in the nonallergy group, but the difference was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Elevation of Th2 driven cytokines and TNF-alpha in MEEs suggests that ROME may be a sign of allergic inflammation in the middle ear.

Keyword

Pediatric; Recurrent; OME; Cytokine; Allergy

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cytokines*
Ear
Ear, Middle
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Humans
Hypersensitivity*
Inflammation
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-6
Necrosis
Otitis Media with Effusion*
Otitis Media*
Otitis*
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Cytokines
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-6
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha