Article information
Abstract
Sudden hearing loss is defined as a sensorineural hearing loss, equal to or greater than 30 dB, at three or more consecutive frequencies, which takes place within 72 hours. Both peginterferon and ribavirin are well-known to be associated with significant adverse effects, but sudden hearing loss is uncommon. We report a 65-year-old male patient who developed sudden-onset hearing loss during combination therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C. Peginterferon and ribavirin may cause sudden hearing loss that may not recover after discontinuation of therapy. Immediate treatment for all possible etiologies is essential, along with targeted investigations and early referral for an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. Physicians should be aware of the possible ototoxic effects of peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy requiring appropriate surveillance.
Keywords:
hepatitis C
chronic
hearing loss
sudden
interferon-alpha
Full text is only aviable in PDF
References
[1.]
G.B. Hughes, M.A. Freedman, T.J. Haberkamp, M.E. Guay.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
Otolaryngol Clin North Am, 29 (1996), pp. 393-405
[2.]
R.S.M. Bittar, R.A.C. Cortina, T.G. Sanchez.
Sudden deafness after inject contraceptive. Case relate.
Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol, 66 (2000), pp. 295-298
[3.]
M.C. Lorenzi, R.S. Bittar, M.E. Pedalini, F. Zerati, et al.
Sudden deafness and Lyme disease.
Laryngoscope, 113 (2003), pp. 312-315
[4.]
P.R. Lazarini, A.C. Camargo.
Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: etiopathogenic aspects.
Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol (Engl Ed), 72 (2006), pp. 554-561
[5.]
R.S. Bittar, J. Oiticica, F.E. Zerati, R.F. Bento.
Sudden hearing loss: a ten-year outpatient experience.
Int Tinnitus J, 15 (2009), pp. 196-202
[6.]
A.D. Psifidis, G.K. Psillas, J. Daniilidis.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: long-term follow-up results.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 134 (2006), pp. 809-815
[7.]
C.Y. Chen, C. Halpin, S.D. Rauch.
Oral steroid treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a ten year retrospective analysis.
Otol Neurotol, 24 (2003), pp. 728-733
[8.]
F.M. Byl Jr..
Sudden hearing loss: eight years experience and suggested prognostic table.
Laryngoscope, 94 (1984), pp. 647-661
[9.]
R.W. Veltri, W.R. Wilson, P.M. Sprinkle, et al.
The implication of viruses in idiopathic sudden hearing loss: primary infection or reactivation of latent viruses?.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 89 (1981), pp. 137-141
[10.]
W.R. Wilson.
The relationship of the herpesvirus family to sudden hearing loss: a prospective clinical study and literature review.
Laryngoscope, 96 (1986), pp. 870-877
[11.]
S. Dolan, E.D. Everett, L. Renner.
Hearing loss in Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Ann Intern Med, 104 (1986), pp. 285
[12.]
D. Tsiachris, M. Deutsch, D. Vassilopoulos, et al.
Sensorineural hearing loss complicating severe rickettsial diseases: report of two cases.
J Infect, 56 (2008), pp. 74-76
[13.]
F.W. Ibrahim, M.K. Malu.
Sudden deafness in a patient with secondary syphilis.
J Laryngol Otol, 123 (2009), pp. 1262-1265
[14.]
S. Mishra, S.L. Walmsley, M.R. Loutfy, et al.
Otosyphilis in HIVcoinfected individuals: a case series from Toronto, Canada.
AIDS Patient Care STDS, 22 (2008), pp. 213-219
[15.]
G. Dusheiko.
Side effects of alpha interferon in chronic hepatitis C.
Hepatology, 26 (1997), pp. 112S-121S
[16.]
S.B. Rutkove.
An unusual axonal polyneuropathy induced by low-dose interferon alfa-2a.
Arch Neurol, 54 (1997), pp. 907-908
[17.]
O. Ogundipe, M. Smith.
Bell's palsy during interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection in patients with haemorrhagic disorders.
Haemophilia, 6 (2000), pp. 110-112
[18.]
E. Formann, R. Stauber, D.M. Denk, et al.
Sudden hearing loss in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon/ribavirin.
Am J Gastroenterol, 99 (2004), pp. 873-877
[19.]
V. Le, T. Bader, J. Fazili.
A case of hearing loss associated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment ameliorated by prednisone.
Nat Clin Pract Gastroenterol Hepatol, 6 (2009), pp. 57-60
[20.]
M.U. Akyol, S. Sarac, G. Akyol, et al.
Investigation of the ototoxic effects of interferon alpha2A on the mouse cochlea.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 124 (2001), pp. 107-110
[21.]
Y. Kanda, K. Shigeno, H. Matsuo, et al.
Interferon-induced sudden hearing loss.
Audiology, 34 (1995), pp. 98-102
[22.]
K. Ogawa, J. Kanzaki.
Aplastic anemia and sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
Acta Otolaryngol Suppl, 514 (1994), pp. 85-88
[23.]
A.D. Mace, M.S. Ferguson, M. Offer, et al.
Bilateral profound sudden sensorineural hearing loss presenting a diagnostic conundrum in a child with sickle cell anaemia.
J Laryngol Otol, 123 (2009), pp. 811-816
Copyright © 2011. Elsevier Editora Ltda.. All rights reserved
