Relationship of T lymphocytes, cytokines, immunoglobulin E and nitric oxide with otitis media with effusion in children and their clinical significances

SUMMARY

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relations of T lymphocytes, cytokines, immunoglobulin E, and nitric oxide with otitis media with effusion (OME) in children and their clinical significances.

METHODS

Fifty children with OME treated in our hospital were enrolled in the study (observation group). Fifty healthy children were selected as control. The percentages of CD₄+ and CD₈+ T lymphocyte and CD₄+/CD₈+ ratio in peripheral blood, and the levels of cytokine (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, immunoglobulin E (IgE) and nitric oxide (NO) in peripheral blood and middle ear effusion (MEE) in both groups were detected. The correlations of these indexes with OME were analyzed.

RESULTS

The percentage of peripheral blood CD4+ and CD₈+ levels, CD₄+/CD₈ ratio, IgE, and NO levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). In the observation group, the IL-2 and IL-6 levels, and IgE and NO levels in the MEE were significantly higher than those in peripheral blood (P < 0.01). In addition, in the observation group, the MEE IL-2 and IL-6 levels were positively correlated with peripheral blood CD₄+/CD₈+ ratio, respectively r = 0.366, P = 0.009; r = 0.334, P = 0.018.

CONCLUSIONS

The levels of peripheral blood CD₄+ and CD₈+ lymphocytes and MEE IL-2, IL-6, IgE, and NO levels are increased in children with OME. These indexes have provided significant clues for the diagnosis of OME in children.

Otitis media with effusion; T-lymphocytes; Cytokines; Immunoglobulin E; Nitric oxide