T Cells as Marked with Acid α-Naphthyl Acetate Esterase Staining in Secretory Otitis Media

Abstract

Non-specific acid α-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity of the lymphocytes was investigated in smears made of middle ear secretions and peripheral blood from 61 children with secretory otitis media. On the average, 20.1 % (right ear) and 21.1% (left ear) of the lymphocytes in the ear samples showed distinctive ANAE-positive spots in their cytoplasms, by the method used. The mean percentage of ANAE-positive cells in the blood was 47.8 and it was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the respective percentages of the ear samples. In normal children, 54.9% of the lymphocytes, on the average, were ANAE-positive. This difference in blood between patients and control group was significant (P < 0.001). Consequently, the present study suggests that the relationships of T- and non-T-lymphocytes, as marked with ANAE, are disturbed in children suffering from secretory otitis media. The importance of this finding and the validity of the method are discussed.