[Assessment of hearing organ ability in high-frequency auditory in patients suffering from chronic renal failure treated by haemodialysis and human recombinant erythropoietin (rhPEO)]

Otolaryngol Pol. 2002;56(5):589-96.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

The problem of hearing loss occurrence in the course of chronic renal failure (CRF) was investigated in numerous research studies, attempting to explain both the etiological factors and treatment possibilities. According to various authors, the percentage of hearing loss occurrence in patients suffering from CRF differs between 20% and 80%. The idea of this paper is based on an observation that if peripheral blood parameters such; haemoglobin, amount of red blood cells improve when influenced by rhEPO, then tissue oxidation improvement connected with it causes also better metabolism of cilliar's cells, what helps to improve hearing. The purpose of this study has been to assess the influence of treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin obtained through genetic recombination and by haemodialysis upon the condition of the hearing organ in patients with CRF (as a result of both a single procedure and long-term treatment). 65 haemodialysed patients with chronic renal failure were enrolled in this study. 31 of them (with haematocrit value below 28%) were treated with rhEPO for 4 months (3 times a week, 4000 units). The remaining 34 patients (with haematocrit values of above 28%) were not treated with rhEPO. Impairment of hearing was found in 87.1% of the CRF patients examined, while the hearing loss in high frequency range (9-18 kHz) was significantly more pronounced than those observed in the conventional range. In 70% of the patients the hearing loss was the cochlear type. Thus, combining haemodialysis with recombinant human erythropoietin in treatment of CRF patients results in significant improvement of hearing, correlated with positive results in fighting anaemia. The improved hearing found is, most surely, related to better oxygen supply of ciliated cells of internal ear, resulting from improved oxygen supply in peripheral blood and tissues of the body, and may also be related to the centric activity of erythropoietin, as the presence of receptors for EPO was found in the central nervous system (CNS) neurocytes, and it was also proven that EPO is produced in CNS, probably in astrocytes.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anemia / drug therapy
  • Anemia / etiology
  • Audiometry
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Erythropoietin / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Hearing / drug effects*
  • Hearing Loss / drug therapy*
  • Hearing Loss / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Renal Dialysis*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Erythropoietin