Brainstem auditory pathway of children with acute lymphoid leukemia on chemotherapy with methotrexate.

OBJECTIVE

Investigate the auditory pathway in the brainstem of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia submitted to chemotherapy (by intravenous or intrathecal infusion).

METHODS

Fourteen children aged between 2 and 12 years with diagnosis of acute lymphoid leukemia were evaluated. The following procedures were used: meatoscopy, acoustic immitance measurements, tonal audiometry, vocal audiometry, transient otoacoustic emissions, and auditory brainstem response.

RESULTS

From the 14 children with normal auditory thresholds, 35.71% showed an alteration in auditory brainstem response, with a predominance of hearing impairment in the lower brainstem. It was found that 80% of the children with alteration had used intrathecal methotrexate less than 30 days and that 40% had the highest cumulative intravenous methotrexate doses.

CONCLUSION

Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia submitted to chemotherapy, present auditory pathway impairment in the brainstem, with a predominance of a low brainstem.