Audiometric changes in patients undergoing liver transplantation using distinct immunosuppressive protocols

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http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/117947207/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1 & SRETRY=0

Original Article

Audiometric changes in patients undergoing liver transplantation using distinct immunosuppressive protocols

Elena Fortes 1, Cláudio Augusto Marroni 2, Pedro Coser 3, Abaeté de los Santos 4 *

1Centro Universitário Metodista do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil2School of Medicine, Grupo de Transplante Hepático Fundação Faculdade Federal de Ciências Médicas de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil3School of Medicine Universidade Federal de Santa , RS, Brazil4School of Medicine Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

email: Abaeté de los Santos (abaete@...)

*Correspondence to Abaeté de los Santos, Faculdade de Medicina, Centro Clínico da PUCRS, Av. Ipiranga 6690, Conj. 414. CEP 90610-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

Telephone: 055-51-33 36 77 00; FAX: 055-51-33 36 77 00

Abstract

The aim of the study was to disclose a possible association of hearing defects with the use of either cyclosporin (CyA) or tacrolimus (FK-506) in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT). Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) was performed in the same 42 patients before and after LT. Audiometric frequencies recorded ranged from 250 to 8000 Hz. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the use of CyA (n = 18) or FK-506 (n = 24). We used Kolmogorov-Smirnov and subsequently Student t test, nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Mann-Whitney test for statistical analysis. Significance was achieved when P 0.05. There was a statistically significant change in PTA results, occurring as decreased hearing perception, especially in high frequencies (4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz), in both ears of patients undergoing LT and receiving FK-506. Audiometric changes were not perceived pre- and posttransplantation in patients using CyA, except in the right ear, in the 3000-Hz range. In conclusion, LT patients presented worsening of hearing patterns after undergoing transplantation. The defect was significantly more accentuated in the high-frequency tones, particularly in individuals using FK-506 as the immunosuppressive regimen.

Liver Transpl, Volume 14, Issue 4 , Pages 509 - 511, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.

Received: 20 June 2007; Accepted: 6 October 2007

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)10.1002/lt.21385