Matthew C Morris1, Anthony L Almudevar2, Janet R Casey3, Michael E Pichichero4. 1. Research Institute, Rochester Regional Health Systems, 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621, United States. 2. Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester, 265 Crittenden Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14642, United States. 3. Research Institute, Rochester Regional Health Systems, 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621, United States; Legacy Pediatrics, 1815 S Clinton Avenue No. 360, Rochester, NY 14618, United States. 4. Research Institute, Rochester Regional Health Systems, 1425 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621, United States; Legacy Pediatrics, 1815 S Clinton Avenue No. 360, Rochester, NY 14618, United States. Electronic address: michael.pichichero@rochesterregional.org.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Our group has an ongoing clinical research project investigating the immunology of the otitis-prone (OP) phenotype. In light of evidence that this condition arises from underlying immunological defects, we examined our sample population of stringently defined OP (sOP) children suffering 3 episodes of acute otitis media within 6 months or 4 within a year for a familial association with the sOP phenotype. METHODS: We analyzed the frequency of sOP within and between families and the nasopharyngeal (NP) otopathogen colonization patterns within and between families. RESULTS: The presence of sOP siblings significantly predicted that additional children in the same family would likewise become sOP, with an odds ratio of 3.7 (95% CI 0.77-15.2, 95% lower bound 0.95). We further present evidence for an environmental contribution to this effect by means of prolonged exposure to otopathogens within family units. CONCLUSION: sOP children have a significant familial association. The tendency of siblings to share similar patterns of microbial NP colonization contributes to this association. Further research is necessary to determine whether and to what extent genetics are involved.
OBJECTIVE: Our group has an ongoing clinical research project investigating the immunology of the otitis-prone (OP) phenotype. In light of evidence that this condition arises from underlying immunological defects, we examined our sample population of stringently defined OP (sOP) children suffering 3 episodes of acute otitis media within 6 months or 4 within a year for a familial association with the sOP phenotype. METHODS: We analyzed the frequency of sOP within and between families and the nasopharyngeal (NP) otopathogen colonization patterns within and between families. RESULTS: The presence of sOP siblings significantly predicted that additional children in the same family would likewise become sOP, with an odds ratio of 3.7 (95% CI 0.77-15.2, 95% lower bound 0.95). We further present evidence for an environmental contribution to this effect by means of prolonged exposure to otopathogens within family units. CONCLUSION: sOP children have a significant familial association. The tendency of siblings to share similar patterns of microbial NP colonization contributes to this association. Further research is necessary to determine whether and to what extent genetics are involved.
Authors: Michael E Pichichero; Ravinder Kaur; Janet R Casey; Qingfu Xu; Anthony Almudevar; Martina Ochs Journal: Hum Vaccin Immunother Date: 2012-04-12 Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: Jake Jervis-Bardy; Geraint B Rogers; Peter S Morris; Heidi C Smith-Vaughan; Elizabeth Nosworthy; Lex E X Leong; Renee J Smith; Laura S Weyrich; Jacques De Haan; A Simon Carney; Amanda J Leach; Stephen O'Leary; Robyn L Marsh Journal: Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2015-07-17 Impact factor: 1.675
Authors: Lena Hafrén; Elisabet Einarsdottir; Erna Kentala; Sari Hammarén-Malmi; Mahmood F Bhutta; Carol J MacArthur; Beth Wilmot; Margaretha Casselbrant; Yvette P Conley; Daniel E Weeks; Ellen M Mandel; Outi Vaarala; Anna Kallio; Merit Melin; Janne K Nieminen; Eira Leinonen; Juha Kere; Petri S Mattila Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-07-15 Impact factor: 3.240