Role of Atopic Allergy in Chronic Otitis Media:Evaluation Based on Serum IgE and Nasal/Aural Cytologic Findings in Patients with Operated Chronic Ears

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Abstract
Serum IgE levels and nasal/aural secretion eosinophils and basophilic cells were studied in 84 patients with ear discharge despite previous radical operation, in 83 patients with postoperatively dry ears, and in 30 normal persons. Serum IgE values suggesting atopy (100 U/ml, PRIST) were more frequent (p<0.05) among patients with draining ears than among persons with healthy ears. Normal IgE concentrations showed reversed frequency distribution. Nasal secretion eosinophils and/or basophilic cells were also found more frequently (p<0.05) among patients with discharging ears than in other groups. Analogously, those with both serum IgE of 100 U/ml and‘positive’nasal cytology more often had infected than dry (p<0.01) or normal (p<0.05) ears. Aural secretions showed eosinophils and/or basophilic cells in 14 (17%) patients; 11 of them had such cells in their nasal secretions too. It would seem that atopy is probably one cause of persistent therapy-resistant otitis media and it must be taken into account when considering the treatment of a chronic ear.