Interferon-induced sudden hearing loss.
With the increasing long-term use of interferon (IFN), several new adverse effects have been recognized. Very little attention, however, has been paid to auditory acuity. We encountered 3 cases of sudden hearing loss associated with IFN. We then conducted a prospective study to assess the auditory function of 73 patients receiving IFN. Auditory disability (tinnitus and/or hearing loss) occurred in 32 patients (43.8%) during IFN therapy, among which audiometry documented sensorineural hearing loss in 27 cases (36.9%); 17 (48.6%) of the 35 patients receiving IFN-beta had auditory disability, including hearing loss in 13 cases (37.1%), and 15 (39.5%) of 38 patients receiving IFN-alpha suffered from auditory disability. There was not much difference between the influences of IFN-alpha and -beta. Auditory disability frequently developed in the later stages of treatment, and most patients recovered 7-14 days after the discontinuation of IFN. The results demonstrate that sudden hearing loss can occur as a side effect of treatment with IFN. This may reveal the association between autoimmunity and sudden hearing loss.
Kanda
Y
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
Shigeno
K
K
Matsuo
H
H
Yano
M
M
Yamada
N
N
Kumagami
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000187:drug effects
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta