Local application of N-acetylcysteine in secretory otitis media in rabbits.

The middle ears of patients with secretory otitis media treated by ventilation tubes are exposed to two abnormal conditions: an inflammatory process and a hyperoxic condition. Both are known to cause changes in the mucosa, fibrosis in particular. N-acetylcysteine has been demonstrated to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects as well as being an oxygen radical scavenger. In an attempt to elucidate if N-acetylcysteine is capable of preventing the changes caused by secretory otitis media and ventilation tubes we administered different doses of the substance locally to the middle ear of an animal model. The results showed that N-acetylcysteine reduced the extent of the inflammation in the middle-ear mucosa and prevented the long-term fibrotic changes associated with secretory otitis media.