[Ototoxicity of cisplatin in children]

The ototoxicity of cisplatin has long been well known for its damage to hair cells. However, the results of published studies vary widely with respect to the intensity and frequency of auditory damage.

We analyzed the data of 13 young children that have been treated with cisplatin for varying tumor diseases in established combination chemotherapy. The study focused on these major questions: How high is the rate of cisplatin-related incidents of hearing loss in relation to age, sex, nature of tumor, and total dosage of the administered cisplatin? How much does the supplementary application of further ototoxic medications affect the ototoxicity itself?

Eight of 13 children examined showed regular hearing capacities in conformity with their age-group, 3 showed a bilateral, and one child showed an one-sided loss of auditory capacity. Deterioration of preexisting auditory damage was observed in one child. No relation to age, sex, nature of tumor, or dosage of administered cisplatin was established. Bilateral hearing loss occurred in three of these children, which indicates that possible synergy of aminoglycoside antibiotics and cisplatin should be investigated with respect to ototoxicity.

The results indicate that cisplatin, especially in combination with other ototoxic drugs, can lead to severe hearing loss in young children. Since factors other than the possible synergy discusses above favorable to the development of auditory damage cannot be specified, every child under cisplatin therapy should undergo auditory checkups at brief intervals.