Normalized immunoglobulin patterns in adults with recurrent acute otitis media and low IgG2 levels during early childhood

Objectives: Children who suffer from recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM) sometimes display low immunoglobulin levels. It is not known whether the differences in immunoglobulin levels remain during adulthood or if rAOM-patients have more episodes of AOM and airway infections as adults.

Methods: A study on adults, with a history of rAOM during childhood, was performed. The immunologic status and individual disposition for upper airway infections were evaluated in 28 subjects who originally participated in a study on rAOM between 1979 and 1983. 13 subjects had suffered from rAOM during early childhood and 15 subjects without rAOM served as a control group. The study included analysis of immunoglobulins in serum and self evaluation regarding susceptibility to infections of the upper airway.

Results: There was no difference between the groups neither regarding IgG2 concentrations nor specific antibody levels. No episodes of AOM were reported after 20 years of age in any of the study subjects. The history of airway infections was similar in both groups.

Conclusions: Study subjects who had rAOM combined with low IgG2 levels during childhood had a normalized immunoglobulin pattern as adults.