The Role of Serum Adhesion Molecules s-ICAM-1 and s-VCAM-1 in Chronic Otitis Media Pathogenesis: A Prospective Controlled Study

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (s-ICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule- 1 (s-VCAM-1) in patients with chronic otitis media (COM) according to the disease profile and to compare with ears without otitis media. Eighty-nine patients had ear surgery were included in the study prospectively. 78 patients who underwent tympanomastoidectomy included in the study group and 11 patients who underwent exploratory tympanotomy included in the control group prospectively. The level of s-ICAM-1 and s-VCAM-1 measured with ELISA technique. s-ICAM-1 and s-VCAM-1 levels compared between COM specific diseases group and with the control group. Levels of s-ICAM-1 and s-VCAM-1 measured as 584.5 ± 165.3 ng/ml and 541.1 ± 237.3 ng/ml in patients with COM, 384.4 ± 99.6 ng/ml and 551.7 ± 336.4 ng/ml in the control group respectively. The mean of s-ICAM-1 detected significantly higher in the COM group (p < 0.001). But the mean of s-VCAM-1 in the COM and control group was similar (p = 0.895). Also, s-ICAM-1 was significantly higher in patients with cholesteatoma, ossicular chain defects and tympanic membrane retraction (p = 0.037, 0.045 and 0.032, respectively). Although s-VCAM-1 level was not affected by cholesteatoma, ossicular chain defect and tympanic membrane retraction (p = 0.178, 0.243, p = 0.164, respectively). While the mean of s-ICAM-1 was detected significantly higher in COM and related pathologies therefore, increased serum levels may reflect the severity of the disease. But, s-VCAM-1 was not affected by COM and COM-specific diseases.