Increased IgM-type betalactoglobulin antibodies in children with recurrent otitis media

Total concentrations of IgA, IgG, IgM and IgE, precipitating antibodies to cow milk, milk-specific IgE, as well as anti-milk antibodies and betalactoglobulin antibodies of the IgA, IgG and IgM classes determined by the ELISA method were studied and compared in children with recurrent otitis media, and children who had never had otitis. The children with recurrent otitis had a higher total IgE at 1 year of age and a higher total IgM at 3 years. The only difference in milk-specific antibodies was an increased titre of betalactoglobulin antibodies of IgM type in children with recurrent otitis. This new finding suggests that immunological mechanisms might play a part in recurrent otitis, which has been shown to be more common in bottle-fed than in breast-fed infants. So far, the role of betalactoglobulin antibodies in the pathogenesis of otitis media remains uncertain.