Is otitis media with effusion associated with oxidative stress? Evaluation of thiol/disulfide homeostasis.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the relationship between otitis media with effusion and thiol/disulfide homeostasis using a novel marker of oxidative stress.

METHODS: The study group consisted of 30 patients (mean age 8.33 ± 3.30 years) with bilateral otitis media with effusion admitted to our hospital. The control group consisted of 35 (mean age 7.40 ± 3.97 years) age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched healthy subjects. Thiol/disulfide homeostasis was measured using a newly developed method.

RESULTS: Native and total thiol levels were lower in the study than the control group (native thiols 421.37 ± 72 μmol/L vs. 464.46 ± 46.42 μmol/L, p < 0.05; total thiols 468.42 ± 77.89 μmol/L vs. 501.32 ± 50.30 μmol/L, respectively). Disulfide levels and the disulfide/native thiol and disulfide/total thiol ratios were higher in the study group (disulfides 23.56 ± 4.68 μmol/L vs. 18.43 ± 4.94 μmol/L; disulfide/native thiol ratio 5.65 ± 1.05 vs. 3.97 ± 1.03%; disulfide/total thiol ratio 5.06 ± 0.83 vs. 3.66 ± 0.88%, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress may be the major cause of the increase in oxidized thiols in patients with bilateral otitis media with effusion, however, this relationship requires further investigation.