Improvement of Suspected Eosinophilic Otitis Media with Targeted Biologic Therapy

Abstract

Objective: To compare the responses of suspected eosinophilic otitis media to treatment with or without a targeted biologic therapy against interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, or IL-13 signaling.

Study design: Retrospective review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Patients: Subjects with type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), asthma, and otitis media who underwent treatment between 2005 and 2021.

Intervention: Treatment with targeted biologic therapy.

Main outcome measures: Pre- and posttreatment nasal endoscopy, ear examination, and audiologic evaluation.

Results: Four hundred seventy-seven subjects with type 2 CRSwNP were treated between 2005 and 2021. Sixty-two had otitis media with pre- and posttreatment evaluation. Retrospective chart review assessed pre- and posttreatment exam findings, nasal endoscopy, audiometry, and tympanometry. Nineteen subjects received a biologic therapy, whereas 43 did not. Exam, endoscopy, and tympanometry were graded for severity and compared pre- and posttreatment. Subjective ear exam and tympanometry were significantly improved with biologic therapy (control = 0.05, biologic = 0.84, p = 9.3 × 10 -5 ; control = -0.1, biologic = 0.62, p = 0.0002). Conductive hearing loss as assessed by air-bone gaps did not change between groups (control = 1.2 dB better, biologic = 1.2 dB worse, p = 0.32). Nasal endoscopy findings improved with biologic therapy relative to the control group, although not statistically significant (control = 1.04, biologic = 1.36, p = 0.22).

Conclusions: Biologic therapies targeting interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-13 signaling are potential new treatments for eosinophilic otitis media. This is the largest study demonstrating improvement in subjects with suspected eosinophilic otitis media in response to biologic therapy, and immune modulation represents a novel treatment strategy for this challenging condition.

Professional practice gap and educational need: Current treatment strategies for otologic symptoms in eosinophilic disease are not tremendously effective or durable, resulting in a need for improved treatment options.

Learning objective: To determine if targeted biologic therapy, often used for eosinophilic asthma and type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, improves coexistent suspected eosinophilic otitis media.

Desired result: Treatment of suspected eosinophilic otitis media with targeted biologic therapy will result in improvement of otologic symptoms with a durable response compared with current treatment options.

Level of evidence: Level IV.

Indicate irb or iacuc: Exempt. HUM00182703.