Genetic role in recurrent acute otitis media

There is increasing interest that a strong genetic component is involved in the predisposition to recurrent acute otitis media [rAOM]. Study of human leucocyte antigens [HLA], as a genetic marker, by microcytotoxicity test and polymerase chain reaction [PCR] of 31 patients of rAOM was done to find out the relation between them for clarifying the pathogenesis of recurrence. The study showed HLA B21 antigen of class I and HLA DR2 antigen of class II were significantly increased p value. This supports the presence of an immunogenetic factor in pathogenesis of rAOM