T lymphocytes in the effusions of secretory otitis media

Smears were made from 39 middle ear effusions in 29 children with secretory otitis media (SOM) and stained with acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) to demonstrate T lymphocytes. The effusions showed on the average 21% of the lymphocytes to be ANAE positive, while simultaneously drawn peripheral blood revealed the proportion of ANAE positive cells to be 53% (P less than 0.001, the Student's t-test). Our finding suggests that T cell dependent defence mechanisms may be locally disturbed in SOM.