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Ototoxicity in dogs and cats
J A Pickrell1, F W Oehme, W C Cash
1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-5606.
Seminars in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Small Animal)
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Certain drugs like aminoglycoside antibiotics can cause hearing loss and balance problems by damaging ear cells. Early detection of this ototoxicity is crucial as it may be reversible, with research exploring potential treatments.
Area of Science:
- Ototoxicology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The ears' primary roles are hearing and maintaining equilibrium.
- Several drugs, including aminoglycoside antibiotics, erythromycin, polymyxin B, and cisplatin, are known to cause ototoxicity.
- Ototoxicity can lead to severe hearing loss (deafness) and/or vestibular dysfunction (impaired balance).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms and manifestations of drug-induced ototoxicity.
- To highlight the importance of early detection and potential reversibility of ototoxic effects.
- To discuss factors influencing ototoxicity and potential therapeutic interventions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on ototoxic drugs and their effects.
- Analysis of cellular mechanisms, including receptor cell damage and biochemical alterations (calcium, cAMP, cGMP).
- Discussion of diagnostic methods for early detection of auditory and vestibular damage.
Main Results:
- Drug-induced ototoxicity results from direct damage to specialized receptor cells in the ear.
- Damage levels correlate with ototoxin concentrations in endolymphatic fluids.
- Factors like endolymphatic calcium levels and the co-administration of salicylates or loop diuretics can influence ototoxicity.
Conclusions:
- Ototoxicity affects high-frequency hearing initially, particularly in aging individuals.
- Early detection via methods like Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) and vestibular reflex assessments is vital for potential reversibility.
- Experimental treatments like Cavinton and fosfomycin are being investigated to mitigate drug-induced ototoxicity.