Objectives: We performed a prospective randomized and controlled animal study to investigate the effects of infliximab on experimental otitis media in rats.
Methods: Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to 3 study groups and 1 control group. Infliximab was injected intravenously. Histopathologic changes were determined by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Fluorescence microscopy was performed to examine the leakage of the exudates. Vascular permeability was measured by the Evans blue dye technique.
Results: In comparison with the control group, we found significant differences in the extent of middle ear mucosa without active inflammation and the presence of reparable lesions in all study groups treated with infliximab. A significant reduction of extravasated Evans blue dye in all study group animals was found as compared with the control group animals.
Conclusions: This study suggests that the monoclonal tumor necrosis factor alpha antibody, infliximab, can reduce inflammatory activity in experimental otitis media in rats.