7 A forum for case studies, clinical notes and observations, and other clinical material that does not have a traditional research format. V alproic acid (VPA), or valproate, was first discovered in 1882 by Burton, but its anticonvulsant properties were not Although thousands of patients have been treated with VPA, only recently has the question of VPA ototoxicity been raised. The first reports...

Although the ototoxic actions of a variety of drugs have long been documented, the biochemical mechanisms underlying such toxicity largely remain to be established. For example, recent advances have provided us with information about the actions of salicylates (aspirin) and diuretics (furosemide) but we are not yet able to specify the mechanisms by which these drugs damage the cochlea. On the o...

Objectives estimate the prevalence of ototoxic hearing loss in drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients treated with aminoglycoside antibiotics via a systematic review and meta-analysis. Estimate annual preventable cases DR-TB leverage findings to discuss primary, secondary tertiary prevention.Methods studies published between 2005 2018 that reported post-treatment were included. We perform...

INTRODUCTION Auditory conditioning consists of the pre-exposure to low levels of a potential harmful agent to protect against a subsequent harmful exposure. OBJECTIVE To confirm if conditioning with an agent different from that used to cause the trauma can also be effective. METHODS This was an experimental study with 17 guinea pigs, divided into three groups: an ototoxic control group (Con...

Inner ear sensory hair cells die following exposure to aminoglycoside antibiotics or chemotherapeutics like cisplatin, leading to permanent auditory and/or balance deficits in humans. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are used to study drug-induced sensory hair cell death since their hair cells are similar in structure and function to those found in humans. We developed a cisplatin dose-response curve us...

The current paper is an attempt at highlighting important strategic indicators, as well as important variables, that the audiology community needs to consider in order to play a more central role in pharmaco-vigilance as part of pharmaco-audiology. Pharmaco-vigilance is an important aspect of pharmacological treatment of disease. In developing countries, where burden of disease is high with res...

Ototoxicity is a significant side effect of a number of drugs, including the aminoglycoside antibiotics and platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents that are used to treat life-threatening illnesses. Although much progress has been made, the mechanisms that lead to ototoxic loss of inner ear sensory hair cells (HCs) remains incompletely understood. Given the critical role of protein phosphorylati...

Objective This study aimed to investigate possible ototoxicity associated with topical rifamycin application via electrophysiological tests and ultrastructural examinations. Methods Electrophysiological assessment was performed with tympanometry, auditory brainstem response (ABR), and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) measurements. This study was conducted on 40 ears of 20 guine...

Bacterial meningitis is still a major public health threat inside developing countries. In Brazil, the Department of Public Health estimates that the prevalence of bacterial meningitis is 22 cases per 100,000 persons. During the neonatal period, the bacterial meningitis develops special characteristics that can result in hearing problems and movement loss due to neurological and psychological d...

The author explains the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, prevention, diagnostic work-up, and management of bilateral vestibulopathy. Gait ataxia and oscillopsia are the key clinical features of bilateral vestibulopathy. Other clinical features of bilateral vestibulopathy include absence of spontaneous vertigo and nystagmus; inability to walk in the dark or on uneven or soft surfaces, unl...