title: The Incidence of Ototoxicity in Patients Using Iron Chelators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to detect the incidences of ototoxicity in patients with hemoglobinopathies taking deferoxamine (DFO), deferiprone, and deferasirox using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) scale to obtain more objective data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five transfusion-dependent patients were evaluated in this study. The NCI CTCAE scale was used to assess ototoxicity levels. The average ferritin and hemoglobin levels, the type of iron chelator, and the duration of therapy of all the patients were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ototoxicity was observed in 15 patients (31.9 %), all of whom were taking DFO. The median age was 19.5 (6-43) in patients without ototoxicity and 29 (16-50) in those with ototoxicity; this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The median ferritin and pre-tx Hb levels were 1391 ng/mL and 9.06 mg/dL, respectively, in patients with ototoxicity and 986.7 ng/mL and 9.24 mg/dL, respectively, in those without ototoxicity; these differences were not significant (p>0.05). Ototoxicity was not observed in the eight patients who used only deferasirox and deferiprone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ototoxicity incidence with DFO at doses below 50 mg/kg/day was 27.3%. Deferiprone and deferasirox were not associated with ototoxic effects in patients taking these drugs.
authors.affiliation: Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, Muğla, Turkey. serhanderin@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Serhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derin
authors.forename: Fatih Mehmet
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Azık
authors.forename: Yaşar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Topal
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Topal
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karakuş
authors.forename: Petek Uzay
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Çetinkaya
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Şahan
authors.forename: Tansel Erdem
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Azık
authors.forename: Can Naci
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Kocabaş
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015913:Chelation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007502:Iron Chelating Agents