THE INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE OF C3-C4 COMPONENTS OF THE COMPLEMENT SYSTEM IN OME
1KSU, KBB Hastanesi, Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye2KSU, Mikrobiyoloji, Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye Objective: Otitis media with effusion (OME), a common disease in childhood, is characterized by chronic inflammation in which the proinflammatory activity of the complement (C) system is postulated to be one of the causative factors. The aim of this study was to investigate whether complement system has a role in the pathogenesis of OME or not.
Methods: The study included 16 patients with OME, 8 patients with acute otitis media (AOM) and 16 healthy controls. Blood samples were collected from all subjects, while middle ear fluid samples were obtained only from AOM and OME group. C3 and C4 levels in serum and middle ear effusions were determined.
Results: The C3 and C4 levels in the serum of the patients with AOM were significantly higher than those of the patients with OME and normal controls. The presence of C3 and C4 in the middle ear effusions of the patients with OME and AOM was shown, but C3 and C4 levels were significantly lower in middle ear effusions than in serum of the same patients.
Conclusion: The present study showed that C3 and C4 components of the complement system are present in the middle ear effusions of the patients with OME. These components may have a role in the development, maintenance or the chronicity of the disease but further studies are needed to elucidate the role of complement system in OME.
Keywords : C3, C4, OME, AOM