Peripheral blood immunological parameters of children with adenoid hypertrophy with otitis media with effusion: propensity score matching

Purpose: To evaluate peripheral blood immunological parameters and the possible correlation with age, gender and adenoid size in children with adenoid hypertrophy with OME.

Methods: A total of 664 children with adenoid hypertrophy were initially enrolled in our study, of which 83 had concomitant OME. To minimize selection bias, we performed one to two propensity score matching (PSM) between children with and without OME. After PSM, 80 children with OME (OME group) and 157 children without OME (adenoid hypertrophy [AH] group) were selected. The patients' peripheral blood samples were prepared prior to surgery and their immunological parameters were compared between groups.

Results: Compared to the AH group, the serum level of C3 was significantly higher in the OME group (0.88 ± 0.01 g/L vs. 0.94 ± 0.02 g/L; p = 0.014), which was the only independent risk factor for OME (odds ratio 13.58, 95% confidence interval 1.25-147.99; p = 0.032). However, no such difference was seen for serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE), T cell subsets (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells), or lymphocytes and monocytes. Further subgroup analyses showed that in children ≤ 5 years old, the C3 level was significantly higher in OME patients (p = 0.023). A subgroup analysis based on sex indicated that there was a significantly higher level of serum C3 (p = 0.009) and lower CD3+ and CD4+ T cells (p = 0.010 and p = 0.021, respectively) in girls with OME compared to those without OME. No association between immunological parameters and adenoid size was found.

Conclusions: There were no significant differences in cellular immunology and humoral immune indicators in children with adenoid hypertrophy with or without OME. In children ≤ 5 years old, significantly higher serum C3 levels in patients with OME demonstrate excessively activated C3 in comparison to patients without OME. For girls, a higher serum level of C3 with a lower amount of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells may be associated with OME.