Evidence of mast cell activity in the middle ears of children with otitis media with effusion

OBJECTIVES: This is the first study to report the presence of tryptase, a reflection of mast cell activity, in chronic middle ear effusion of patients whose atopic status was characterized. DESIGN AND METHODS: Mediator activity of mast cells and eosinophils was measured prospectively from effusion of 33 randomly selected patients and 5 control subjects with chronic otitis media with effusion (OME). Atopy was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Middle ear biopsies from a second group of 8 OME patients and 4 controls were fixed in plastic and stained immunohistochemically for mast cells. RESULTS: Sixty-one percent of patients had extensive activation of mast cells in their middle ears. Among those with elevated tryptase in their effusion, 95.6% were atopic and 94.7% also had elevated levels of effusion eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP). Tryptase levels were elevated only in the effusion of atopic patients, as compared with 5 controls (P < .01). Mast cells were present in 6 of 8 OME ears and absent in all 4 normal ears. CONCLUSION: Mast cells and its mediator tryptase, both indicators of a Th2-driven immune response, are present in a majority of ears that have chronic effusion. These findings support the hypothesis that middle ear mucosa is capable of an allergic response and that the inflammation within the middle ear of most OME patients is allergic in nature.     

分泌性中耳炎中耳积液嗜酸细胞阳离子蛋白与IgE测定

目的：通过测量分泌性中耳炎（OME）患者中耳积液中嗜酸细胞阳离子蛋白（MECP）、中耳积液IgE（MIgE）及血ECP（SECP）的含量,进一步探讨OME发病机制与变态反应的关系。方法：对31例OME患者,用Uni-CAP-100型变应原体外检测系统分别测量MECP、MIgE及SECP含量,得出结果并统计学处理。结果：31例OME患者检测到MECP均值为56．88μg／L,明显升高9例,占28．1％;MIgE均值为27．2ku／L,明显升高3例,占9．7％。MECP与MIgE呈正相关（P〈0．05）;SECP均值为5．6μg／L。结论：ECP存在于OME的鼓室积液中,部分OME是中耳的局限性变态反应炎性过程。OME发病过程中存在着复杂的变态反应机制。     

Gas exchange function of the middle ear in patients with otitis media with effusion

Gas exchange function through the middle ear mucosa was assessed using nitrous oxide (N₂O) in patients with otitis media with effusion (OME), as well as in normal ears during elective surgery for unrelated disorders. In all normal ears except one (n = 43), an increase in pressure was observed after N₂O inhalation. In 42 of 84 ears with OME, a pressure increase was observed, but not in the remaining 42 ears (50%), indicating that the gas exchange function in these latter ears was impaired. In 21 of the 42 ears showing no middle ear pressure increase following N₂O inhalation, the middle ear pressure was again monitored after myringotomy and aspiration of the effusion A pressure increase was found in 16 ears, indicating that the impairment in gas exchange function in ears with OME may be reversible in most cases. Computed tomography of the mastoid was examined preoperatively in 66 ears, with the presence or absence of a middle ear pressure change well correlated in 57 ears with the presence or absence of mastoid aeration.     

Transtympanic endoscopic findings in patients with otitis media with effusion

Using a fine, rigid endoscope (Olympus, SES-1711K), we examined the middle ear, including the tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube, of children with otitis media with effusion (OME) in its active stage (26 ears), in the convalescent stage (13 ears), and during treatment with ventilation tubes for 10 days to 6 months (five ears) through myringotomy with the patients under general anesthesia. Several color photographs of representative ears are shown. In the active stage of OME, edema (73.1%) and hyperemia (23.1%) were characteristic features of the middle ear mucosa, and normal mucosa was seen in only one ear (3.1%). The tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube, which could be examined in 12 ears, were stenosed with edema in four ears (33.3%) or plugged with effusion in three ears (25.0%) in this group. In the convalescent stage of OME, dilated vessels were most often seen (69.2%), but the rest of the patients had normal mucosa (30.8%) in the middle ear, and none of them had edema nor hyperemia. The tympanic orifice of the eustachian tube, which could be examined in five ears, was clearly patent in all the patients in this group. One ear that was treated with a ventilation tube for 1 month showed dilated vessels and less severe inflammation than did ears that were in the active stage of OME, and three ears that were treated for more than 3 months showed almost normal middle ear mucosa.     

Optimizing effectiveness of laser tympanic membrane fenestration in chronic otitis media with effusion. Clinical and technical considerations

OBJECTIVE: To describe the patient, disease and clinical characteristics that optimize the effectiveness of laser tympanic membrane fenestration (LTMF) to treat chronic otitis media with effusion (OME). SETTING: Four pediatric otolaryngology tertiary referral centers. IRB approved; participation by informed consent. METHODS: An observational clinical effectiveness trial was conducted in 164 ears (94 children), who had chronic OME. All patients were candidates for insertion of pressure equalization tubes (PETs) but agreed to undergo LTMF instead. Clinical and audiologic follow-up are reported at 90 days after LTMF. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical effectiveness was defined as an effusion free middle ear at otoscopy with A or C1 tympanogram and normal hearing. RESULTS: At 90 days, 66% of the 95 evaluable ears were effusion free, all with normal hearing. Children younger than 4 years (P<0.04), who had shorter durations of effusion (P<0.009), and who experienced longer duration of fenestration patency (FP) (P<0.009) correlated to improved outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The use of LTMF to create 2--3 weeks of middle ear ventilation in patients with chronic OME (middle ear effusion (MEE) for 3 months or greater) is effective in 66% of 95 (58%) of ears evaluable at 90 days follow-up. This study provides basic information needed to optimize the use of LTMF today and enhance research efforts in the future.     

分泌性中耳炎鼓室积液嗜酸细胞阳离子蛋白测定

目的通过检测分泌性中耳炎(otitismediaofeffusion,OME)鼓室积液中是否存在嗜酸细胞阳离子蛋白(eosinophilcationicprotein,ECP)及其与血清ECP的关系,探讨OME与变态反应关系。方法选取31例OME患者,利用Uni-CAP-100型变应原体外检测系统分别测量鼓室积液及血清ECP含量,对结果进行统计学处理。结果31例OME患者鼓室积液均检测到ECP,明显升高者9例,占28.1%。血清ECP浓度均小于正常值。鼓室积液ECP与血清ECP无相关性(spearman相关,P=0.4209)。结论ECP存在于OME的鼓室积液中,某些OME是中耳局限性变态反应炎性过程。     

Detection of Helicobacter pylori in children with otitis media with effusion: a preliminary report

OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the middle ear effusion of patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study in patients with OME. METHODS: The study was performed in 38 patients with OME who were admitted to the ENT Clinic, Firat University from June 2003 to April 2004. In all cases, a myringotomy operation (with or without placement of a ventilation tube) was carried out. The effusion samples aspirated from the middle ear were analyzed with PCR assay. RESULTS: A total of 55 aspiration samples collected from 38 children ranging in age from 2 to 12 were included in the study. Fifteen of the subjects were girls, and 23 were boys. In 17 patients, both ears demonstrated effusions, whereas in 21 patients, only one ear had effusions. Nine (16.3%) of 55 the middle ear effusion samples were shown to be H. pylori positive by PCR. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori was detected in the middle ear effusion of some patients with OME. These results may have interesting implications for a possible role of H. pylori in OME. In addition, these results suggest that further studies are needed to investigate the role of H. pylori in the etiology of OME.     

Induction of mucin and adhesion molecules in middle ear mucosa

We hypothesized that inflammation molecules induce the secretory hyperplasia characteristic of otitis media with effusion (OME). The purpose of the present study was to compare the location of inflammation molecules and mucin in the middle ear mucosa of both normal and OME ears. OME was created by bisection of the tensor veli palatini muscle in germ-free rabbits, and the development of middle ear effusion was confirmed by otomicroscopy and tympanometry. Ventilation tubes (VTs) were inserted in half of the ears. The animals were decapitated after 8 weeks, and serial sections of the middle ear mucosae were either periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-stained or stained immunohistochemically for inflammation molecules or mucins. The length of stained epithelium was measured and related to the total epithelial length. There was a striking resemblance between mucin-type MUC5B- and PAS-positive epithelium and areas positive for the chemoattractant inflammation molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and RANTES (reacted upon activation, normal T expressed and secreted). The percentages of ICAM-1- and PAS-stained epithelium were significantly higher in OME ears than in normal ears. OME ears treated with VTs also contained significantly more PAS-positive epithelium than normal ears, but less than OME ears. Based on the spatial and temporal coincidence between ICAM-1 and mucin, it is suggested that: (i) inflammation may initiate and maintain the hypersecretory state of the middle ear mucosa which is presumably responsible for the chronicity of OME; and (ii) that MUC5B is a major mucin component of OME effusions.     

Effect of middle-ear effusion on otoacoustic emissions

Because otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are transmitted from the cochlea to the ear canal via the middle ear, the transmission properties of the middle ear directly influence OAEs' characteristics. In general, middle-ear effusion (MEE) reduces measured emission amplitudes and sometimes eliminates the response entirely. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between the conduction of the middle ear and OAEs' properties and to elucidate the effect of middle-ear effusion on detecting OAEs. Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs), transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were recorded from 44 normal ears and 32 ears with middle-ear effusion. DPOAEs were collected in two basic forms consisting of distortion product audiograms (DP grams) and input-output (I-O) functions, elicited by two primary tones F1 and F2 and varying geometric mean frequencies between 1-6 kHz. The results of air and bone conduction hearing levels in pure tone audiogram were also analysed. In 21 ears out of 32 otitis media with effusion (OME) ears, SOAEs were absent. In the 28 ears with middle-ear effusion, the response and wave reproducibility were diminished, and in the 17 ears with middle-ear effusion, the DP gram was diminished or eliminated. In particular, I-O function curves at 3 kH and 4 kHz were diminished by the primary tones of 45 and 55 dB under the condition of MEE. The SOAEs, TEOAEs and DPOAEs (DP gram and I-O function curve) are highly reliable and useful tests for monitoring changes in middle-ear condition in children with OME and in predicting the course of OME.     

Negative middle ear pressure and otitis media with effusion after surgery under general anesthesia

Abstract Conclusion: Negative middle ear pressure was observed in many patients and otitis media with effusion (OME) developed in 3.3% of ears after surgery under general anesthesia. Gas dynamics in the middle ear cavity induced by nitrous oxide inhalation anesthesia and transient blockage of the eustachian tube induced by surgery are considered to be involved in development of OME after surgery under general anesthesia. Objectives: The goal of this prospective study was to investigate middle ear pressure and the prevalence of middle ear effusion in patients after surgery under general anesthesia, to ascertain whether surgery under general anesthesia induces OME. Methods: Otoscopic inspection and tympanometry were performed before surgery (Pre), 1-2 days after surgery (Post-1), and 5-9 days after surgery (Post-2) under general anesthesia in 180 ears of 97 adult patients. Results: Effusion accumulated in the tympanum in six ears (3.3%) of five patients at Post-1. All patients were anesthetized with nitrous oxide. At Post-2, effusion disappeared in all cases. The mean middle ear pressure in all ears was -17.8 daPa at Pre and -60.6 daPa at Post-1, showing a significant reduction from Pre to Post-1 (p < 0.001). At Post-2, the pressure was -18.4 daPa, with no significant difference from that at Pre (p = 0.74).     

Direct measurement of middle ear pressure through the eustachian tube

We report a method for measuring middle ear pressure through the eustachian tube. We used a 1-mm-diameter micro-tip catheter pressure transducer (Mikro-tip) and inserted this into the tympanic cavity through the eustachian tube. In preliminary studies, we measured four normal ears, two ears with tubal dysfunction, one ear with a dry perforation and 13 ears with otitis media with effusion (OME). Among those ears with OME, three showed negative middle ear pressure, three slight positive pressure and one normal pressure. These findings suggest that our transtubal method is reliable and useful for measuring middle ear pressure.     

Direct measurement of middle ear pressure through the eustachian tube

Summary We report a method for measuring middle ear pressure through the eustachian tube. We used a 1-mm-diameter micro-tip catheter pressure transducer (Mikro-tip) and inserted this into the tympanic cavity through the eustachian tube. In preliminary studies, we measured four normal ears, two ears with tubal dysfunction, one ear with a dry perforation and 13 ears with otitis media with effusion (OME). Among those ears with OME, three showed negative middle ear pressure, three slight positive pressure and one normal pressure. These findings suggest that our transtubal method is reliable and useful for measuring middle ear pressure.     

探讨儿童分泌性中耳炎的诊断程序

目的 将鼓室导抗图、纯音听阈与耳CT结果比较,并经鼓膜切开所见验证,分析鼓室导抗图、纯音听阈和耳CT在判断中耳积液的敏感度.方法 分析2007年1月至2008年6月临床诊断分泌性中耳炎住院治疗的患者,将其病史、平均听阈、CT结果进行Logistic分析.结果 40例(75耳)患者中男28例(53耳),女12例(22耳).年龄最小3岁6个月,最大11岁10个月,平均6岁6个月.鼓膜切开证实中耳有分泌物62耳(82.7%),无明显分泌物13耳(17.3%).鼓膜置管23耳.统计学分析结果显示,听力损失程度、CT结果与中耳积液有相关性(r值分别为1.392、1.355;P值均＜0.05).结论 通过鼓膜情况、鼓室导抗图和平均听阈综合判断中耳积液有较高的敏感度.特别以传导性听力损失程度判断有无中耳积液有较高特异性.分泌性中耳炎的患儿,除常规耳科检查,应首先进行声导抗,纯音测听检查.尽管耳CT具有较高的敏感度但是由于其副作用的局限,不建议作为分泌性中耳炎的常规检查.     

Microbiology of chronic and recurrent otitis media with effusion in young infants

Chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) has been assumed to be sterile, since several reports in the literature have described unsuccessful attempts to culture bacteria from it. However, several recent studies have confirmed an earlier report that there is a significant frequency of bacteria in the middle ears of children with chronic and/or recurrent OME. Similar studies in young infants with chronic and/or recurrent OME have not been previously reported. In this study, cultures were obtained at the time of myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion from 50 infants aged 1–12 months who had chronic and/or recurrent OME. From the 80 ears of 40 infants without cleft palate, 32% had bacteria isolated from their middle ears; 22% had Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae. In 21 of these ears, no effusion was apparent at myringotomy, but in 28% bacteria were isolated from middle ear washings. From the 20 ears of 10 infants with an unrepaired cleft palate, 55% had bacteria present in their middle ear aspirates; 50% had S. pneumoniae or H. influenzae. Even though the significance of bacteria in chronic OME in children, and now in young infants, is unclear at present, a therapeutic trial with an antimicrobial agent prior to surgical intervention would appear to be reasonable until such therapy is tested in a randomized, clinical trial.     

Influence of nasal allergic reactions on the clearance of middle ear effusion

In order to investigate the influence of nasal allergic reactions on the clearance of middle ear effusion, an animal model of nasal allergy and otitis media with effusion was produced in the same guinea pigs simultaneously by passive sensitization with serum of homologous animals containing IgE antibodies (for nasal allergy) and by inoculation of immunocomplex into the tympanic cavity (for otitis media with effusion). Usually, middle ear effusion appeared within 2 to 3 days and disappeared within 7 to 9 days after the inoculation of immunocomplex. Three days after the inoculation of immunocomplex, intranasal antigen challenge was performed three times daily and continued until the animals were killed. Disappearance of middle ear effusion appeared to be delayed in animals in which nasal allergic reactions were induced. Middle ear effusion was not found in those ears that were not inoculated with immunocomplex. Findings of the present study indicate that IgE-mediated allergic reactions of the mucous membrane lining the nose, nasopharynx, and eustachian tube constitute a factor indicative of a chronic state of disease, rather than a cause of otitis media with effusion.     

Change of middle ear transfer function in otitis media with effusion model of guinea pigs

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is an inflammatory disease of the middle ear that causes most cases of conductive hearing loss observed in the pediatric population. With the long term goal of evaluating middle ear function with OME, the aim of the current study was to create an animal model of OME in which middle ear transfer functions could be measured. In guinea pigs, OME was created by injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the middle ear. Evidence of OME was assessed by otoscopy, tympanometry, histology, and by measuring the volume of fluid in the middle ear. Vibrations of the umbo and round window membrane were measured with a laser Doppler vibrometer at frequency range of 200-40kHz in three groups of 3, 7, and 14 days after injection of LPS. Changes in displacement of the umbo and round window membrane in response to 80dB SPL sound in the ear canal were measured across the frequency range. Displacement of both the umbo and round window membrane was reduced at all time points following LPS injections. Further, the change of the displacement transmission ratio (DTR) from the tympanic membrane to the round window occurred mainly in chronic (e.g. 14 days post-LPS injection) OME ears. This study provides useful data for analyzing the change of middle ear transfer function in OME ears.     

双耳感音神经性聋患儿合并分泌性中耳炎的临床诊治

目的 探讨双耳感音神经性聋并发分泌性中耳炎患儿的症状特点, 为及时诊治此类患者提供临床依据。方法 收集经手术治疗的双耳感音神经性聋并发分泌性中耳炎患儿(A组)17例(34耳)的病历资料, 分析其误诊原因、临床特点及并发症发生率, 并与同期行手术治疗的单纯双耳单纯分泌性中耳炎患儿(B组)17例(34耳)进行鼓室粘连发生率的比较。手术前后应用听性脑干反应(ABR)检查随诊听力变化。结果 A组均以家属发现听力下降为首诊症状, 在当地首诊曾诊断为突发性聋7例, 耳闷塞感、耳鸣、耳痛等症状叙述不清, 均无法采集到确切的分泌性中耳炎发病时间;行双耳鼓膜置管时发现中耳粘连5例(7耳), 手术前后ABR检查Ⅴ波阈值改善0～30 dB nHL, 平均17.3 dB nHL, 手术前后Ⅴ波阈值改善, 差异有统计学意义(P < 0.05)。B组患儿无1例误诊, 首诊诉耳痛或耳鸣、耳闷塞感等耳部不适症状15例, 发病时间明确, 首诊诉听力下降2例, 鼓膜置管时中耳粘连1例(1耳)。A组并发症发生率高于B组, 差异有统计学意义(P < 0.05)。结论 双耳感音神经性聋并发分泌性中耳炎患儿临床病史采集困难, 易误诊, 临床并发症发生率高, 应及时干预;鼓膜置管对听力改善效果明显。     

Otitis media with effusion: treatment by autoinflammation using a balloon

Resolution of negative middle ear pressure is important in treating otitis media with effusion (OME). We treated 34 children and 21 adults with OME by autoinflammation using a nose tube and balloon in the 16 months from June 2001 to September 2002. Of these, 7 children and 5 adults had been treated for 3 years or longer, and had had grommets inserted. In 49 ears of 27 early cases of children, 34 ears (69%) improved in tympanometric findings converting to type A from type B, C2 and C5, and 9 ears (18%) of type B converted to type C1. In 23 ears of 16 early cases of adults, 12 ears (52%) improved converting to type A from type B, C2, C5 and C1, and 3 ears (13%) to type C1 from type B. However, 4 ears of 4 children and 5 ears of 5 adults did not recover by autoinflammation. In 7 children with prolonged OME in whom grommets had been inserted, 5 recovered due to autoinflammation, whereas only one of 5 adults recovered. Of 6 patients who had not recovered, 2 were associated with asthma and nasal polyposis and eosinophils infiltrated into the middle ear effusion. In other 2 patients, even when the middle ear effusion disappeared by grommets insertion, they had still dysfunction of the Eustachian tubes confirmed by sonotubometric examination. It seems no beneficial effects of autoinflammation were maintained if patients had tubal dysfunction due to intensive inflammatory changes of the middle ear and tubal mucosa or other unknown origin. Two patients used the device irregularly and rarely. There is a theoretical risk associated with this maneuver of causing baroinjury and forcing infected nasopharyngeal secretions into the middle ear, but we found no complications.     

Efficacy of allergy immunotherapy as a treatment for patients with chronic otitis media with effusion

OBJECTIVE: Controversy persists over the significance of allergy as it might relate to chronic middle-ear disease as no controlled study of the efficacy of allergy immunotherapy has been published. The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the atopic status of patients with intractable chronic otitis media with effusion or drainage from their middle ear and (2) to determine in this select population the efficacy of specific allergy immunotherapy in preventing or limiting the duration of their chronic middle-ear disease. METHODS: This was a prospective, cohort study of patients cared for in a private community practice. History, examination, audiogram, tympanometry and recurrence of effusion/infection were recorded on 89 patients (52 children <15 years old, 37 adults) referred with (1) effusion found to warrant myringotomy and ventilation tubes, or (2) chronic drainage from a perforation or tube. All were evaluated for allergy by intradermal skin testing according to criteria of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. A control cohort of 21 patients who refused therapy was included. Intervention consisted of immunotherapy for dust, pollen, and molds. Recurrence or persistence of fluid or drainage following 2-8 years of therapy was compared to the patient's pretreatment status. RESULTS: All 89 OME patients proved to be atopic. Most were allergic to dust (94%), animals (44%) and molds (88%) while 9% were allergic only to seasonal pollens. Associated allergic diseases included asthma (21%) and allergic rhinitis/sinusitis (63%). Otitis was the sole symptom among 37%. Immunotherapy provided complete resolution of effusion or drainage in 85% of 127 ears. CONCLUSION: Intradermal testing proved all 89 patients with intractable middle-ear disease in this study who presented with chronic effusion or chronic draining perforations or tubes to be atopic. Specific allergy immunotherapy significantly improved 5.5% and completely resolved 85% of chronic otitis media with effusion in these ears. None of the controls resolved spontaneously (p<0.001). This supports the hypothesis that in many, otitis media with effusion is an immune mediated allergic disease and suggests that these patients deserve consideration for aggressive evaluation and allergy treatment, as most respond to immunotherapy.