Chronic otitis media and immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity in adults: is it a contributor of cholesteatoma?

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between chronic otitis media (COM) and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity in adults.

STUDY DESIGN:

A prospective comparative study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

One hundred seventeen patients with COM from July 2005 to April 2007 were enrolled. All subjects had a questionnaire on allergic rhinitis symptoms and performed allergy tests that included a total IgE and the multiple radioallergosorbent chemiluminescence assay to check the presence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity and allergic rhinitis were 22.2% and 7.7% in patients with COM, respectively. The mean total IgE was 157.2 ranging from 3 to 1833. The prevalence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity was similar with regard to the recurrence or bilaterality. However, patients with cholesteatoma had a higher prevalence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity than patients without that condition.

CONCLUSION:

The prevalence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity and allergic rhinitis in adults with COM appeared to be higher than in the general population. Allergy might contribute to COM especially in cases with a cholesteatoma.

• Authors: Sang Duk Hong, Yang-Sun Cho, Sung Hwa Hong, Won-Ho Chung, Kyu-Whan Chung
• Journal: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) Vol. 138 Issue 5 Pg. 637-40 (May 2008) ISSN: 0194-5998 [Print] England
• PMID: 18439471 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulin E

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear (etiology)
• Chronic Disease
• Female
• Humans
• Hypersensitivity (complications)
• Immunoglobulin E (immunology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Otitis Media (complications)
• Prospective Studies