Platinum drugs related hearing loss in children with solid tumors

WANG Shengcai; MA Xiaoli; ZHOU Yi; TANG Lixing; CHEN Min; ZHANG Jie; LIU Haihong; TAI Jun; LIU Yuanhu; NI Xin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2015.03.004

Abstract：Objective To study effects on hearing by platinum drugs in children with solid tumors and risk factors for platinum drugs related hearing loss. Methods Clinical data of children with solid tumors was collected from January 2014 to April 2015, who received platinum drugs for chemotherapy. Audiologic exami-nations were performed before the 1st, 3rd and 6th courses of chemotherapy, including pure tone audiometry (PTA), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR). Results A total of 47 children (94 ears) with solid tumors were included, aging from 0.2 to 12.5 years who received an average 5.4 courses of chemotherapy (ranging 3-10 courses). In ABR examination, hearing loss rate at the 6th course was 6.4%, significantly higher compared to the baseline level (p<0.001). In PTA examination at 6 and 8 kHz, thresholds at the 6th courses were also significantly different compared to the baseline hearing level (p<0.05). In DOPAEs, the pass rates at 6 and 8 kHz at the 6th course declined significantly compared to the baseline level. Logistic regression model indicated age as one of the risk factors for hearing loss (p<0.05, OR=0.192), suggesting that the younger the patients was, the more prominent the platinum drugs related ototoxici-ty would be. Conclusion The use of platinum drugs in chemotherapy for pediatric solid tumors can cause hearing loss, especially in the high frequency range (6-8 kHz). DOPAEs, PTA and ABRs can be used as im-portant methods in the evaluation of early hearing changes caused by platinum drugs. Age may be one of the risk factors of platinum drugs related ototoxicity.