Immunological status in the aetiology of recurrent otitis media with effusion: serum immunoglobulin levels, functional mannose-binding lectin and Fc receptor polymorphisms for IgG.

The objective was to study the role of serum immunoglobulin levels, mannose-binding lectin (MBL), and Fc gamma receptor (FcgammaR) polymorphisms on the development of recurrent otitis media with effusion (OME). Children aged between two and seven years with persisting OME received bilateral tympanostomy tubes and immunological parameters were investigated in relation with OME recurrence within six months after tube extrusion. No statistically significant differences in serum immunoglobulin levels were present between children with and without OME recurrence. In children with bilateral recurrence (n = 56), median levels of MBL were 1.39 mg/L compared to 2.48 mg/L in children with OME recurrence (n = 17) (p = 0.29). In addition, 34% of the children with bilateral recurrence were homozygous for the genotype FcgammaRIIa-R/R131, whereas less than 20% of the children with unilateral recurrence or those without recurrence were homozygous for this Fcgamma receptor (p = 0.26). Serum mannose-binding lectin and FcgammaRIIa-R/R131 polymorphism may play a role in the aetio-pathogenesis of recurrent OME.