The Role of Leukotriene in Otitis Media with Effusion in Children

Abstract

Children with otitis media with effusion (OME) were divided into two groups: a group administered Oxatomide which had anti-leukotriene (LT) effects (Oxatomide-administered group) (17 cases,17 ears) and a control group (15 cases,16 ears), and the concentrations of LTC₄, LTD₄ and LTE₄ in middle ear effusion were measured by radioimmunoassay.
In the Oxatomide-administered group, the LTC₄ concentration was 28.7±15.3 picograms per milligram of total protein (pg/mgTP) and total concentration of LTD₄ and LTE₄ (LTD₄ + LTE₄ concentration) was 80.3±53.8 pg/mgTP. On the other hand, in the control group, the LTC₄ concentration was 50.5±42.5 pg/mgTP and the LTD₄ + LTE₄ concentration was 288.2±144.6 pg/mgTP. The LTD₄ + LTE₄ concentration was significantly lower (p<0.001) in the Oxatomide-administered group than in the control group, and duration of treatment for OME showed a tendency to be shorter in the Oxatomide-administered group than in the control group.
On the basis of these results, it was suggested that LTD₄ and/or LTE₄ might be related to the prolongation of OME.