Recent advances in otitis media with effusion.

OME is similar to other chronic inflammatory diseases with the additional fact that ventilation of the middle ear is an extremely important and necessary part of therapy. Antimicrobial therapy alone may not cure middle ear inflammatory disease as long as Eustachian tube dysfunction persists. If Eustachian tube dysfunction and middle ear fluid persists, all forms of immunologic reactivity may occur in the middle ear which may result in persistent effusion and damage to the mucosal system, to the middle ear ossicles, and to the mastoid mucosal system. These changes may require more aggressive surgical management. It is obvious that we must learn more about the physiology and pathophysiology of the Eustachian tube; about understanding of the systemic, and particularly the local humoral and cell-mediated immune response in the middle ear. Finally, we must determine the potential role of inflammatory mediators, both in the protection against disease and also in the potential role that they play in tissue injury. Encouraging progress is being made in all of these areas and it seems likely that the increased research interest and productivity from laboratories throughout the world will eventually lead to the goal of enhanced prevention and improved treatment of OME.