Correlation of an elevated ANA titer with tubal dysfunction

Introduction Functional disorders of the Eustachian tube are associated with the prevalence of an elevated antinuclear antibody (ANA) titre. The question arises whether this association found in the patient population of a university hospital is also prevalent in the patient population of a standard care hospital.

Material and method As part of the preoperative preparation, the ANA titre of patients admitted for tube dilatation was determined by laboratory paratmetry. A value>1:320 was considered positive. The target value was the rate of patients with elevated ANA titres.

Results The evaluation period was one year. To date, a positive ANA titre at a dilution of>1:320 has been detected in 3 out of 15 patients tested. This corresponds to a rate of 20% in our cohort.

Conclusion An elevated ANA titre as a cause of tubal dysfunction must still be assumed. With regard to the laboratory parametric threshold values, further data should be generated. The validity of the allocation to tubal dilatation should also be critically scrutinised.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
19. April 2024