Cochlear Function in Adults with Epilepsy and Treated with Carbamazepine

• Published in: Audiology & neurotology Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 63
• Main Authors: Hamed, Sherifa A, Oseilly, Amira M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Adult; Anticonvulsants - adverse effects; Anticonvulsants - pharmacology; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Auditory Threshold - drug effects; Auditory Threshold - physiology; Carbamazepine - adverse effects; Carbamazepine - pharmacology; Carbamazepine - therapeutic use; Cochlea - drug effects; Cochlea - physiopathology; Epilepsy - drug therapy; Epilepsy - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Labyrinth Diseases - chemically induced; Labyrinth Diseases - physiopathology; Male; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous - drug effects; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous - physiology; Cochlea; Tinnitus; Otoacoustic emissions; Carbamazepine; Auditory function
• DOI: 10.1159/000490232

Epilepsy is a chronic medical disease and is associated with comorbid adverse somatic conditions due to epilepsy itself or its long-term treatment. This study evaluated cochlear function in patients with idiopathic epilepsy and treated with carbamazepine (CBZ). Included were 47 patients (mean age = 34.56 ± 7.11 years and duration of illness = 17.84 ± 7.21 years) and 40 healthy subjects. They underwent pure-tone audiometry and transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) analyses. Hearing loss (mainly bilateral mild) was reported in one third of patients. Compared to controls, patients had lower TEOAE amplitudes at 1.0-4.0 kHz particularly at high frequencies (3 and 4 kHz). Significant correlations were identified between TEOAE amplitudes with CBZ dose (at 3 kHz: r = -0.554, p = 0.008; at 4 kHz: r = -0.347, p = 0.01), its serum level (at 4 kHz: r = -0.280, p = 0.045) and duration of treatment (at 3 kHz: r = -0.392, p = 0.008; at 4 kHz: r = -0.542, p = 0.001). Long-term CBZ treatment may result in cochlear dysfunction and auditory deficits.