Acute visual and auditory neurotoxicity in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving desferrioxamine

We report 5 cases of acute visual and auditory neurotoxicity in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving desferrioxamine. Four patients complained of visual toxicity characterized by a decrease in visual acuity, loss of color vision and night blindness. In these patients there was a decrease in visual acuity, and the Farnsworth's test revealed a tritanopy (yellow-blue axis impairment); 1 patient also showed retinal pigmentary changes. A fifth patient complained of bilateral and severe neurosensorial deafness. Patients improved clinically upon drug-withdrawal. We recommend careful monitoring of audiovisual toxicity in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving this drug.