Mediterr. J. Otol 2008; 4:(2)

Correlation between proinflammatory cytokine levels and scored clinical parameters in patients with  secretory otitis media

Svjetlana Matković, Danilo Vojvodić, Dragoslava Djerić

Military Medical Academy, ORL Dept, Belgrade, Serbia. matkovicsvetlana@yahoo.com

Objective: Purpose of this study was to establish paired correlation between IL6, IL8, IFNg, TNFb, TNFa, IL1b levels in samples from middle ear secretion and scored clinical parameters of secretory otitis media.

Methods Fifty-nine patients took part in the research (totalling 108 samples) age up to 15 years old with secretory otitis media (SOM), without other diseases. Cytokine concentrations were measured using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Results. Percentage of detectable cytokines in the middle ear samples ranged from 100% for TNFα and IL1β to 18% for IFNγ. IL8 levels were highest in patients with the mucous secretion type. The IFNg were higher in patients with retracted eardrum than in those with thinned eardrum and preserved eardrum.

Conclusion. The levels of IL6, IL8, IFNg, TNFb, TNFa and IL1b were found to correlate with clinical parameters of secretory otitis media.