Evaluation of inflammatory markers in pediatric patients with otitis media with effusion: a retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common pediatric condition associated with hearing loss and reduced quality of life. This study aims to evaluate the clinical significance of various inflammatory markers in pediatric OME patients who have undergone surgical treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1,121 pediatric patients aged 2-15 years, including 613 OME patients who underwent tympanostomy tube placement (with or without adenoidectomy) and 508 healthy controls. Complete blood count parameters were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups based on the viscosity of intraoperative middle ear effusion as serous or mucoid and graded according to their adenoid sizes. Comparisons between groups were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in %LUC, SII, SIRI, and MLR values between the OME patients and the control group (p < 0.05). SII, SIRI, and MLR values were higher in the OME patient group, whereas %LUC was higher in the control group. ROC analysis did not yield significant cut-off values for any marker. Among adenoid grade groups, only %LUC showed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.018). There was no significant relationship between the viscosity of middle ear effusion and any of the inflammatory markers.

CONCLUSION

The data suggest that inflammatory markers may be associated with OME; however, their clinical utility remains uncertain. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate their potential role in the diagnosis and follow-up of at-risk pediatric patients.