ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although combined chemotherapy has increased survival rates among children with cancer, such treatments can induce sensorineural hearing loss. Therefore, we aimed to identify risk factors for hearing impairments in patients with childhood cancer.METHODS: Audiograms were obtained from 115 patients with childhood cancer and survivors (age < 20 years). Pure tone audiometry (PTA) was performed at octave intervals within the range of 250-8000 Hz. We evaluated clinical risk factors associated with hearing impairments. Hearing loss was evaluated based on the maximal decibel (dB) loss in any frequency for each ear (RA(max) or LA(max)) and weighted mean dB loss for specific frequencies (RA(avg) or LA(avg)).RESULTS: Forty percent of patients (N=46) exhibited hearing loss >20 dB based on the weighted mean value in either ear. Severe hearing impairments were observed in 56% of patients with brain tumors. Although cisplatin or vinca alkaloids were significant risk factors for hearing impairment, the use of both cisplatin and vinca alkaloids exhibited the highest odds ratio for hearing impairment (P < 0.001, < 0.001 for R/LA(max); P=0.099, 0.039 for R/LA(avg)). Multivariate analysis revealed that the use of both cisplatin and vinca alkaloids was an independent risk factor for hearing impairment based on RA(max), LA(max), and LA(avg) (P < 0.001, < 0.001, 0.039, respectively).CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that cisplatin and vinca alkaloids exert an additive effect on the risk of hearing impairment in survivors of childhood cancer. Further prospective studies are thus required to determine the most effective chemotherapeutic regimen for reducing ototoxicity.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Audiometry , Brain Neoplasms , Cisplatin , Drug Therapy , Ear , Hearing Loss , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural , Hearing , Multivariate Analysis , Odds Ratio , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Survival Rate , Survivors , Vinca Alkaloids , VincaABSTRACT
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders which disrupt the afferent and efferent pathways of the cerebellum that cause cerebellar ataxia. Spectrin beta non-erythrocytic 2 (SPTBN2) gene encodes the β-III spectrin protein with high expression in Purkinje cells that is involved in excitatory glutamate signaling through stabilization of the glutamate transporter, and its mutation is known to cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 5. Three years and 5 months old boy with delayed development showed leukodystrophy and cerebellar atrophy in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diagnostic exome sequencing revealed that the patient has heterozygous mutation in SPTBN2 (p.Glu1251Gln) which is a causative genetic mutation for spinocerebellar ataxia type 5. With the patient's clinical findings, it seems reasonable to conclude that p.Glu1251Gln mutation of SPTBN2 gene caused spinocerebellar ataxia type 5 in this patient.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Amino Acid Transport System X-AG , Atrophy , Brain , Cerebellar Ataxia , Cerebellum , Efferent Pathways , Exome , Glutamic Acid , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Neurodegenerative Diseases , Purkinje Cells , Spectrin , Spinocerebellar AtaxiasABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although combined chemotherapy has increased survival rates among children with cancer, such treatments can induce sensorineural hearing loss. Therefore, we aimed to identify risk factors for hearing impairments in patients with childhood cancer. METHODS: Audiograms were obtained from 115 patients with childhood cancer and survivors (age 20 dB based on the weighted mean value in either ear. Severe hearing impairments were observed in 56% of patients with brain tumors. Although cisplatin or vinca alkaloids were significant risk factors for hearing impairment, the use of both cisplatin and vinca alkaloids exhibited the highest odds ratio for hearing impairment (P < 0.001, < 0.001 for R/LA(max); P=0.099, 0.039 for R/LA(avg)). Multivariate analysis revealed that the use of both cisplatin and vinca alkaloids was an independent risk factor for hearing impairment based on RA(max), LA(max), and LA(avg) (P < 0.001, < 0.001, 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that cisplatin and vinca alkaloids exert an additive effect on the risk of hearing impairment in survivors of childhood cancer. Further prospective studies are thus required to determine the most effective chemotherapeutic regimen for reducing ototoxicity.