Abstract
The presence of a number of inflammatory mediators in middle ear effusions collected from children with otitis media has recently been detected. In one study, histamine levels in middle ear effusions were assayed using a modified fluorometric technique and a range of 0–3650 ng histamine/ml effusion was reported (Berger et al, Rec. Adv. OME, 1984). Since this amine is a biologically active vasodilator affecting mucosal permeability, its presence may have profound consequences to the pathogenesis and treatment of the disease. In an effort to confirm these findings, 22 effusions collected from 17 children aged .7–8.7 years with chronic non-suppurative otitis media were assayed for the presence of histamine using a modified single isotopic enzymatic assay. Histamine concentrations in these effusions ranged from 1.3 to 112 ng/ml with a median value of 21 ng/ml. As with the previous study, no correlation was found between the concentration of histamine and the age or sex of the child, effusion culture or hemoglobin content. While the concentrations reported in this study are an order of magnitude lower than those previously reported, our data support the hypothesis that histamine may be involved in the production and maintenance of inflammatory reactions associated with otitis media.
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Skoner, D., Doyle, W., Tanner, E. et al. 1026 HISTAMINE CONCENTRATION IN MIDDLE EAR EFFUSIONS. Pediatr Res 19, 281 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01056
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01056