1992 Volume 1992 Issue Supplement57 Pages 98-104
The polymerase chain reaction was used for detection of RS viral sequences in middle ear effusion collected from children with otitis media. RS viral sequences were detected in 21 out of 34 samples tested These sample were collected during and/or the after natural outbreak of RSV infection in the community. The viral sequences were highly detectable (85.7%) in the effusions of the patients from whom the nasopharynx RSV was isolated. On the other hand, several immunoregulatory cytokines were present in the ME effusions during RSV infection and in vitro mucosal RSV infection up-regulated production of certain cytokines, paticularly those with inflammatory properties. These observations suggest that RSV is an important factor in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion and that exaggerated production of cytokines in association with RSV infection may lead to the development of infection-induced inflammation, and effusion.
