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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta levels in recurrent and persistent otitis media with effusion
Sertac Yetiser1, Bulent Satar, Atilla Gumusgun
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Turkey. syetiser@yahoo.com
Objective:
Based on interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels in effusions, our goals were to specify either recurrent or persistent otitis media with effusion (OME) is a mid stage in the development of chronic disease and to identify the factors that have an influence on cytokine levels.
Study Design:
Samples from groups with recurrent (n = 15) and persistent (n = 39) OME were assayed for IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. Children were also grouped with respect to age, sex, quality of effusion, and the presence of pharyngeal adenoid tissue.
Setting:
Tertiary referral center.
Results:
In recurrent and persistent OME groups, IL-1beta was higher than TNF-alpha (P < 0.01). IL-beta was higher in recurrent OME than in persistent OME (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Recurrent OME seems to be closer to the chronic stage of the disease relative to persistent OME in terms of higher IL-1beta levels. Each exacerbation of acute disease in recurrent otitis media is likely to be mediated by IL-1beta.
Significance:
We were able to clarify that recurrent OME is a stage that occurs before chronic OME. Therefore, the prevention of acute attacks in recurrent disease would also impede long-term damage to the middle ear.
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