Correlation of pathogenic effects of laryngopharyngeal reflux and bacterial infection in COME of children

Background Bacteria infection and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) were believed the important pathogenesis of chronic otitis media with effusion (COME). But no study researched the relationship between them on COME. Aims To confirm bacterial could arrive middle ear through LPR and produced acid metabolites to activate the pepsinogen of LPR causing COME. Material and methods Children (65) diagnosed COME with 122 middle ear effusions were included in COME group. Children (22) with congenital/acquired profound deafness with 22 middle ear lavage were included in CI group. Pepsin A concentration in the effusion and lavage fluid were measured. The DNA of the bacteria, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in the effusion were detected. Results The average concentration of pepsin A in the effusions and lavage were 176.65 +/- 242.09 and 19 ng/ml. Bacterial infection rates were 75.76% and 24.24% in the pepsin A(+) and pepsin A(-) patients. In the bacterial (+), the patients of pepsin A(+) was 4.33 times higher than those of pepsin A(-). TNF-alpha in pepsin A(+) was higher than that in pepsin A(-). TNF-alpha and IL-8 were higher in bacteria(+) than those of bacteria(-). Conclusions Bacterial infection and LPR might act in synergy in the pathogenesis of COME. Significance First time to propose LPR and bacterial infection might work synergistically to cause COME.

Automated summary

The study found that bacterial infection and laryngopharyngeal reflux may act synergistically in the pathogenesis of chronic otitis media with effusion, providing the first evidence that LPR and bacterial infection may synergistically cause COME.