Evidence of oxygen free radical damage in human otitis media

Recent work with a guinea pig model of otitis media has demonstrated eviden ce of oxygen free radical damage to the middle ear mucosa, However, the rel evance of an animal model to human disease is uncertain. Accordingly, the f ollowing pilot study was conducted to examine human middle ear fluid for li pid hydroperoxides as evidence of free radical damage. Thirty-five specimen s of middle ear fluid from children with chronic otitis media were collecte d and described as mucoid (n = 19), purulent (n = 10), or serous (n = 6); s pecimens were weighed and analyzed for lipid hydroperoxide content. The res ults demonstrated the presence of lipid hydroperoxide in all 3 types of mid dle ear fluid. Additionally, there was a statistically significant elevatio n of total lipid hydroperoxide content in mucoid effusions compared with se rous effusions, as well as a significant elevation of lipid hydroperoxide d ivided by weight of purulent effusions compared with serous effusions. This is the first study to document free radical damage in human otitis media.