Lactoferrin in middle ear effusion.

Lactoferrin (LF) level in the middle ear effusion of patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) was determined by using an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to find the information on non-specific immunity in the middle ear cavity. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an intracellular enzyme, was also measured by spectrophotometer. We investigated cytological findings of middle ear effusion and classified cellular findings into five classes; Neutrophil dominant type, Lymphocytic-monocytic type, Mixed type, Cellular remnants type, and Too few cells type. LF and LDH levels in average: Serum, LF 1.14 microgram/ml, LDH 330.4 IU/l; Few cells type, LF 45.25 micrograms/ml, LDH 2,727.5 IU/l; Lymphocytic-monocytic type, LF 107.11 micrograms/ml, LDH 10,197.8 IU/l; Neutrophil dominant type, LF 99.73 micrograms/ml, LDH 10,580 IU/l; Mixed type, LF 163.71 micrograms/ml, LDH 19,342.9 IU/l; Cellular remnants type, LF 127.6 micrograms/ml, LDH 9,122 IU/l. LF level is high when cellular factors are rich in middle ear effusion.