ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) is often associated with comorbid asthma. The middle ear cavity is part of the upper airway. Therefore, EOM and asthma can be considered to be a crucial part of the “one airway, one disease” phenomenon. Based on the concept of one airway, one disease in the context of allergic rhinitis and asthma, optimal level of inhalation therapy for better asthma control leads to improvement in allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a pilot study to determine whether appropriate strengthening of inhalation therapy for asthma is effective for EOM. METHODS: Fifteen patients with EOM and comorbid asthma were enrolled in this study. Eight patients were randomly selected and administered appropriately strengthened inhalation therapy for asthma (strengthened group). The effect of the therapy on EOM was assessed by comparing a questionnaire for ear symptoms, clinical characteristic score, pure tone audiometry, blood tests and temporal bone computed tomography (CT) examination before and after the therapy. Seven other EOM + asthma patients without the above mentioned therapy were included as controls. RESULTS: In the strengthened group, the score of ear symptoms, clinical characteristics score, peripheral blood eosinophil count, CT score, and air conduction hearing level improved significantly after strengthening the inhalation therapy, but not in the control group. The lung function tests (forced vital capacity [%predicted], forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV₁] [L], and FEV₁ [%predicted]) significantly increased in the strengthened group after the therapy, but not in the control group. CONCLUSION: In this study we demonstrated that EOM improved along with improved lung function when appropriately optimal inhalation therapy was implemented in patients with EOM and asthma. Administration of optimizing therapy for asthma might be effective for concomitant EOM.