[The significance of IFN-gamma measurement in middle ear effusion of secretory otitis media].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical significance of IFN-gamma in secretory otitis media (SOM) by measuring and analyzing and the level of INF-gamma in the effusion of middle ear.

METHOD

A commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) incorporating a biotinylated monoclonal antibody probe was utilized for the quantitative measurement of IFN-gamma in the middle ear effusion and serum samples of the patients and that of the normal persons.

RESULT

The level of IFN-gamma in the middle ear effusion was much higher than that in the serum samples. The difference of the level of IFN-gamma in the serum samples is not significant between the test group and the control group. The level of IFN-gamma in chronic period was much higher that in acute period. The level of IFN-gamma in the middle ear effusion has no significant difference between the group undergoing tympanocentesis for the first time and the group undergoing tympanocentesis for the second time (P > 0.05). The levels of IFN-gamma in the middle ear effusion in the group undergoing tympanocentesis for three or more times arose obviously (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The IFN-gamma in the middle ear effusion may be produced by local tympanum,but not exuded simply from blood. The high expression of IFN-gamma in the middle ear effusion may be a reference of SOM tending to chronic course.