Abstract
Objectives
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between chronic otitis media (COM) and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity in adults.
Study Design
A prospective comparative study.
Subjects and Methods
One hundred seventeen patients with COM from July 2005 to April 2007 were enrolled. All subjects had a questionnaire on allergic rhinitis symptoms and performed allergy tests that included a total IgE and the multiple radioallergosorbent chemiluminescence assay to check the presence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity.
Results
The prevalence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity and allergic rhinitis were 22.2% and 7.7% in patients with COM, respectively. The mean total IgE was 157.2 ranging from 3 to 1833. The prevalence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity was similar with regard to the recurrence or bilaterality. However, patients with cholesteatoma had a higher prevalence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity than patients without that condition.
Conclusion
The prevalence of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity and allergic rhinitis in adults with COM appeared to be higher than in the general population. Allergy might contribute to COM especially in cases with a cholesteatoma.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.