Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) cause various diseases especially gastrointestinal disorders. Clinical diagnosis of H. pylori infection can be done in different ways, and new diagnostic methods are under study .This study aimed to assess the levels of interleukin (IL) 6, 17 and 23 in the middle ear effusion of patients with otitis media, and the association between these levels with H. pylori infection. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted in 40 patients who nominated for ventilation tube (VT) placement due to otitis media with effusion, and admitted to ear, nose, and throat (ENT) clinics of Tehran University of Medical Sciences from March 2012 to August 2013. All of patients underwent myringotomy with VT insertion, and then aspirated effusion sample was tested. H. pylori infection diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial culture. The concentration of IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23 measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of each interleukins were compared between the two positive and negative PCR groups. Results: In all of samples, PCR test result was positive in 22.5%. The mean and standard deviation of IL-6 level was 10.11±2.95, IL-17 was 5.89±0.91 and IL-23 was 4.07±1.34. The mean±standard deviation (SD) of IL-6 level in patients with a positive PCR (H. pylori) was 22.29±6.40 and in patients with a negative PCR was 6.16±3.88 that difference was significant (P=0.01). The mean±SD of IL-17 level in patients with a positive PCR was 6.16±1.29 and in patients with a negative PCR was 5.81±1.13 that difference was not significant (P=0.42). The mean±SD of IL-23 level in patients with a positive PCR was 6.15±3.77 and in patients with a negative PCR was 3.42±1.33 that difference was not significant (P=0.27). Conclusion: According to finding, association between H. pylori infection and increased levels of IL-6 in the middle ear effusion was approved. It is recommended to conduct researches aimed to identify other cytokines as inflammatory markers.

Keywords: helicobacter pylori, interleukin, middle ear, otitis media with effusion

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