Ototoxicity after use of neomycin eardrops is unrelated to A1555G point mutation in mitochondrial DNA.
Ear drops containing neomycin only rarely cause ototoxicity. The authors report on three patients with a tympanic membrane perforation who developed severe ototoxicity after use of eardrops containing 0.35 per cent neomycin. Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed that there was no A1555G point mutation in these patients. This finding indicates that application of low concentration neomycin to the middle ear can cause severe inner ear damage even in humans who are not hyper-susceptible to aminoglycosides.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tokyo, and the Third Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. tyamasoba-tky@umin.ac.jp
Tatsuya
T
Yamasoba
Katsunori
K
Tsukuda
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009355:Neomycin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017354:Point Mutation
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D009355:Neomycin