title: Effects of interferon-alpha2b on hearing.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of interferon-alpha2b treatment on hearing in patients with chronic active hepatitis B. Twenty-six patients with chronic active hepatitis B were enrolled in the study, and pure-tone audiometry was performed to determine hearing thresholds of the patients before and at the end of 6 months of interferon-alpha2b treatment. There was no significant change in hearing thresholds of patients after treatment with interferon-alpha2b (p>0.05). The results of the present study indicate that interferon-alpha2b therapy does not have any negative effect on hearing thresholds of patients with chronic active hepatitis B. There is a need for further studies involving larger numbers of patients to allow conclusions to be drawn regarding the safety of this therapy with respect to hearing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical Faculty, Firat University, Elaziğ, Turkey. kaygusuz_67@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaygusuz
authors.forename: Türkkan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oztürk Kaygusuz
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oztürk
authors.forename: Süleyman Sirri
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kiliç
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karlidağ
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keleş
authors.forename: Sinasi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yalçin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins