Prostaglandins in middle ear effusions.

Although otitis media with effusion is usually a self-limiting disease, there are certain cases in which there appears to be chronic progression of the disease with serious sequelae. It has been demonstrated that there are biological mediators of inflammation in the middle ear that are capable of producing mucous membrane pathologic features. Some of these mediators of inflammation may be the prostaglandins. These cyclic fatty acids have been found in ten consecutive middle ear fluids in concentrations that are usually higher than the corresponding serum or plasma. It is suggested that prostaglandins may play an active role in maintaining the inflammatory response in the middle ear in otitis media with effusion.