[Vestibular tests in infants after treatment with aminoglycosides].
Thorough evaluation of hearing and balance in infants after treatment with aminoglycosides is essential due to serious danger of the inner ear damage. Caloric stimulation is one of the most reliable diagnostic methods of vestibular testing in infants. Recording of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) makes evaluation of the otolith organ and its pathways possible. Potentials resulting from sacculo-collic reflexes are recorded on the surface of the neck muscles.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to evaluate vestibular organ function in the discussed group of infants.


METHODS
70 infants aged 3 months, 40 healthy controls and 30 after treatment with aminoglycosides were examined. 24 of them had been treated with amikacin, 2 with gentamycin, 2 with amikacin and tobramycin, and 2 with amikacin and gentamycin.


RESULTS
No reaction to caloric stimulation was elicited from 12 examined ears, no VEMPs were recorded from 6 ears, profound sensorineural hearing loss was diagnosed in case of 4 ears. Values of VEMP measures did not differ between the groups. Correlation was found between results of VEMPs and caloric test.


CONCLUSIONS
The vestibular organ was frequently impaired in the discussed group of infants. The obtained results correlate with one another due to simultaneous impact of the risk factors on the maculae of the ampullar and otolith systems causing damage to both of them.
Specjalistyczne Centrum Diagnostyczno-Zabiegowe Medicina.
Olaf
O
Zagólski
D000583:Amikacin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005839:Gentamicins; D000583:Amikacin; D014031:Tobramycin