title: Audiometric changes in patients undergoing liver transplantation using distinct immunosuppressive protocols.
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 <or= 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.
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário Metodista do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fortes
authors.forename: Cláudio Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Marroni
authors.forename: Pedro Luis
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Coser
authors.forename: Carlos Abaeté
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de los Santos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006309:Hearing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone; D016559:Tacrolimus