lactoferrin and Maxillary-Sinusitis

The objective of the present study was to estimate the influence of isolated and combined acute suppurative Highmore maxillary sinusitis on the serum lactoferrin (LF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels in the children. A total of 70 children at the age varying from 4 to 15 years were available for the examination. Twenty of them constituted the control group, 29 presented with acute suppurative Highmore maxillary sinusitis, in 21 cildren this condition was combined with frontitis, ethmoiditis, otitis, and adenoiditis. Serum lactoferrin and interleukin-8 levels were measured by solid phase enzyme-linked immunoassay. It was shown that all the aforementioned forms of rhinosinusitis were associated with a significant increase of the serum LF level, an universal factor inactivating the propagation of bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. The level of IL-8 known to activate chemotaxis was increased only in the children presenting with combined forms of suppurative Highmore maxillary sinusitis. It is concluded that this difference can be used for the purpose of dufferential diagnostics of different forms of suppurative maxillary sinusitis.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Interleukin-8; Lactoferrin; Maxillary Sinusitis; Suppuration

Immunohistochemistry was used to study the localization of lysozyme (LZ) and lactoferrin (LF) in the human sinus mucosa during recurrent and chronic sinusitis. Serous cells of submucosal mixed glands and polymorphonuclear leukocytes both displayed a strongly positive staining reaction to both LZ and LF in the normal mucosa. A positive though weak staining for LZ and LF could also be found occasionally within goblet cells. In the mucosa from patients with recurrent or chronic sinusitis, the staining reaction to LZ appeared to intensify in goblet cells. Furthermore, an increased immunoreactivity of glands vis-à-vis LZ and LF was also noted occasionally. Atypical glands were frequently found in mucosa from patients with chronic sinusitis. The epithelium of these latter glands often showed an intense staining reaction to LF, but a rather weak reaction to LZ. The results of the present study suggest that the observed increase in LZ and LF secreting activity of goblet cells, epithelial cells and newly formed atypical glands may play a part in the defense mechanism of the sinus mucosa during the course of chronic sinusitis.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lactoferrin; Male; Maxillary Sinusitis; Middle Aged; Mucous Membrane; Muramidase; Recurrence