Assessing the auditory effects of oral chelation therapy drug Deferasirox in individuals with β-thalassemia major.

OBJECTIVE

Our study aimed to investigate the ototoxicity associated with the iron chelator deferasirox in patients with β-thalassemia major, who were receiving regular transfusion therapy, along with evaluating the data on audiological tests using appropriate statistical tests.

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 100 transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major patients on oral iron chelating agent-deferasirox. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) was carried out in all patients to assess the auditory side effects of the drug. Data was collected, compiled, and analyzed statistically using appropriate statistical tests. The relationship between ototoxicity and various demographic parameters such as age, sex, hemoglobin (Hb) level, S. ferritin, duration, and dose of chelation therapy was also assessed.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients had abnormal DPOAE and the number of patients with pure tone average above 25 dB HL which was taken as hearing deficit on PTA was 13. No statistically significant relationship between hearing loss and age, gender, S. ferritin, duration of therapy, cumulative dose, Hb levels were found.

CONCLUSION

Despite being a lifesaving drug, the advantages of chelating agent-Deferasirox must be weighed against its probable ototoxic effects. We could not find a relationship of ototoxicity with variable parameters (age, gender, Hb level, Ferritin level, duration, and cumulative dose of drug), thus future research is encouraged to form a definitive basis.