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Relationship between serum ferritin level and amikacin ototoxicity
Mohammad Shayaninasab1, Mohammadreza Fatololoomi, Fatollah Behnood
1Assistance Professor, Otolaryngology Department, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Besat Hospital, Hamedan, Iran. Post Code: 65-148-45411.
Higher iron levels are linked to increased amikacin ototoxicity, causing greater hearing loss. Iron deficiency may protect against this serious side effect of aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Ototoxicity research
- Antibiotic side effect studies
- Iron metabolism and health
Background:
- Aminoglycosides are effective antibiotics but can cause ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.
- A leading theory suggests iron-aminoglycoside complexes generate free radicals, leading to ototoxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between serum iron levels and amikacin-induced ototoxicity.
- To determine if elevated iron levels correlate with increased risk or severity of ototoxicity.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 181 patients prescribed amikacin.
- Patients were categorized into two groups based on serum ferritin levels (<150 and >150).
- Hearing thresholds and red blood cell indices were compared between groups using statistical tests.
Main Results:
- Group 1 (higher ferritin) exhibited significantly higher hearing thresholds across all frequencies (p<0.001).
- Maximum hearing threshold shifts at 8000Hz were significantly greater in Group 1 (>20 dB) compared to Group 2 (<10 dB) (p<0.001).
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was significantly higher in Group 1 (p=0.001).
Conclusions:
- Serum iron levels are demonstrably related to aminoglycoside ototoxicity.
- Elevated iron levels appear to exacerbate amikacin ototoxicity, while iron deficiency may offer protection.
- Increased MCV may serve as an indicator of higher serum ferritin and heightened ototoxicity risk.
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