Cochlear Function in Adults with Epilepsy and Treated with Carbamazepine.

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is a chronic medical disease and is associated with comorbid adverse somatic conditions due to epilepsy itself or its long-term treatment.

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated cochlear function in patients with idiopathic epilepsy and treated with carbamazepine (CBZ).

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term CBZ treatment may result in cochlear dysfunction and auditory deficits.