Protective role of superoxide dismutase in rat eustachian tubal mucosa against acute otitis media induced by upper respiratory tract infection

Investigation of antioxidant status in children with acute otitis media and tonsillitis

OBJECTIVE

Antioxidant enzymes status was investigated in children with acute otitis media (AOM) and acute tonsillitis. The aim was to determine the effect of oxidative damage due to free radicals on the antioxidant enzymes status in children with AOM and acute tonsillitis.

METHODS

We measured erythrocyte levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and activity of serum catalase, ceruloplasmin, albumin and total bilirubin in 23 children with AOM, 27 with acute tonsillitis and 17 control subjects.

RESULTS

There was statistically significant difference between the groups for all parameters. All antioxidant activities except for albumin level were increased in the studies groups. When the values of AOM and acute tonsillitis were compared, there was statistically significant difference between the groups for erythrocyte GPx.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that not only a few antioxidant enzymes but almost all antioxidant activities showed a significant enhancement in children with AOM and acute tonsillitis.

[Oxidative profile of tonsil infection. Study of antioxidant enzymes in tonsil and blood]

In order to investigate the effect of oxidative damage due to free radicals on ENT infectious diseases, levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-peroxidase (GPx) and reductase (GRt) and the total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured by spectrophotometry on tonsillar tissue obtained from tonsillectomy in 538 patients, who were divided in three groups according to their surgical indication: tonsillar hypertrophy (n = 235), recurrent tonsillitis (n = 280) or peritonsillar abscess (n = 23). SOD concentration were also measured on adenoid tissue and middle ear exudate in 75 patients from the first two groups. Erythrocyte and tonsillar SOD levels were significantly greater in the abscess group, and lower in the hypertrophic one. These differences were similar for GPx and TAS. For GRt, its level in abscess were lower than in the other two groups in a statistically significant way. There were strong correlations between erythrocyte and tonsillar SOD, tonsillar SOD and GPx, tonsillar SOD and TAS, and tonsillar GPx and TAS. SOD concentrations from adenoid tissue and middle ear exudate did not affect its blood level. So, we can conclude that tonsillar oxidative damage is determined by the frequency or the severity of local infections, and it can be evaluated by measuring the SOD concentration in the tonsillar tissue or in the peripheral blood. So, it can be considered a good marker of tonsillar damage.