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Ototoxic effect of erythromycin therapy
Archives of Otolaryngology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|April 1, 1984
Summary
Erythromycin therapy can cause sudden, high-frequency hearing loss. This case study shows that this ototoxicity may be reversible, even with intravenous erythromycin treatment for Legionnaires
Area of Science:
- Ototoxicology
- Pharmacology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Sudden, symmetrical, high-frequency, sensorineural hearing loss is a rare adverse effect associated with erythromycin therapy.
- Thirty-two cases have been documented in medical literature since 1973, highlighting a potential link between erythromycin and hearing impairment.
Observation:
- A patient undergoing treatment for Legionnaires' disease developed ototoxicity.
- The ototoxicity was linked to intravenous erythromycin administration.
- The patient experienced sudden, symmetrical, high-frequency, sensorineural hearing loss.
Findings:
- The patient's hearing loss was reversible, indicating a potential for recovery from erythromycin-induced ototoxicity.
- This case adds to the documented instances of erythromycin-associated hearing loss, emphasizing the need for vigilance.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider the risk of ototoxicity when prescribing erythromycin, particularly intravenous formulations.
- Monitoring hearing function in patients receiving erythromycin may be warranted, especially those with risk factors.
- The reversibility of ototoxicity suggests that early detection and intervention can lead to favorable outcomes.