Is halofantrine ototoxic? Experimental study on guinea pig cochlea model

Area of Science:

• Ototoxicology
• Pharmacology
• Malariology

Background:

• Halofantrine is a new antimalarial drug for Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
• Its use is limited by potential side effects and lack of human safety data.
• No previous studies have examined halofantrine's impact on hearing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the ototoxic effects of halofantrine.
• To evaluate cochlear histology changes following halofantrine administration in an animal model.

Main Methods:

• Thirty guinea pigs were used, divided into control, therapeutic dose, and double therapeutic dose groups.
• Cochlea specimens were processed using hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue staining.
• Histological examination focused on hair cells and spiral ganglia.

Main Results:

• No cochlear changes were observed in the control group.
• Therapeutic halofantrine doses led to inner hair cell and inner phalangeal cell loss, and spiral ganglia cell loss.
• Double therapeutic doses caused distortion of inner and outer hair cells, and spiral ganglia cell loss.

Conclusions:

• Halofantrine exhibits mild to moderate ototoxic effects.
• The drug causes pathological changes in cochlea histology.
• Halofantrine should be considered a potentially ototoxic medication.