The levels of IL-1 beta in human middle ear effusions.

Inflammatory mediators retained in middle ear effusion (MEE) during otitis media are important in influencing the clinical outcome of this disease. Interleukins, important immunomodulatory proteins, undoubtedly influence this inflammatory response. In our present study we analyzed 74 human middle ear effusion samples for interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). Those effusions classified as purulent (POM) contained the highest levels, while those classified as serous (SOM) had the lowest. A statistically significant correlation between age and level of IL-1 beta was observed, namely, the younger group had higher levels of IL-1 beta than the older group in MOM and POM samples. The results of this study show that IL-1 beta is present in human middle ear effusion of otitis media and suggest that IL-1 beta may be an important mediator involved in the disease processes of otitis media.