New Advances in Evaluation of Hearing in a Sample of Egyptian Children with Î²-Thalassemia Major

Fatma Abdelrahman Elzaree; Manal A. Shehata; Mohamed Abdel Atti; Gihan Elzaree; Ghada M. El-Kassas

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.316

Authors

Fatma Abdelrahman Elzaree National Research Center, Cairo,Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1594-0770
Manal A. Shehata Department of Child Health, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
Mohamed Abdel Atti Department of Child Health, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
Gihan Elzaree Department of Audiology, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Ghada M. El-Kassas Department of Child Health, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.316

Keywords:

Hearing loss, Î²-Thalassemia major, Ototoxicity, Egyptian Children, Iron chelation therapy

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate hearing in Î²-thalassemia major patients on iron chelation therapy by using pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was done on (48) diagnosed, 6-18 years old, Î²-thalassemia major patients who had received at least 3 years iron chelating agent deferoxamine (DFO). We performed PTA, DPOAE testing, and tympanometry for all participants. SPSS was used to analyse data. P < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

RESULTS: No significant difference was found between PTA and DPOAE testing in their capability to detect ototoxicity. PTA and DPOAE testing for the detection of ototoxicity in BTM and BTI, kappa values (Îº) were found to be 0.516 and 0.459, respectively. The whole mean serum ferritin level was 2,251.3 ng/ml. The mean level was 1,603 Â± 1,380 ng/ml in the patients with SNHL and 2,405 Â± 1,908 ng/ml in the patients with normal hearing with the statistically significant difference among both groups (p = 0.015). The occurrence of ototoxicity was statistically significant with increasing age (p < 0.001). There was no marked difference as regards gender (p = 0.72).

CONCLUSION: Hearing loss is prevailing in patients with Î²-thalassemia major on iron chelating agents. Therefore, regular hearing evaluations and periodic check-ups after the initiation of chelation therapy are mandatory.