Association of the FBXO11 Gene With Chronic Otitis Media With Effusion and Recurrent Otitis Media

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Abstract
Chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) and recurrent otitis media (ROM) are relatively common conditions, affecting 10% to 30% of children, and the rates of occurrence seem to be increasing.1-4 These conditions often result in hearing loss5 and middle ear sequelae.6,7 Disease rates are highest in the preschool years and decline as children get older.1 These conditions are often treated with tympanostomy tubes to ventilate the middle ear; this is the most common surgical procedure performed in children in an ambulatory setting.8 Epidemiologic studies2,9,10 have shown that a family history of these conditions increase a child's personal risk for COME/ROM, and twin studies11,12 have demonstrated a high degree of heritability for ROM and otitis media (OM) duration. We conducted a linkage study (the Minnesota COME/ROM Family Study13) that revealed evidence for linkage to COME and ROM on chromosome 10q and suggestive evidence for linkage on chromosome 19q. Several case-control studies have identified relationships between candidate genes and COME/ROM, including HLA antigen,14,15 cytokine genes,16,17 and genes involved in the ability to clear infectious agents implicated in OM.18,19 To date, however, few detailed molecular genetic analyses of genetic associations between candidate genes and COME/ROM have been reported.