Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2012 Sep;5(3):145-149. 10.3342/ceo.2012.5.3.145.

Are Systemic Voriconazole and Caspofungin Ototoxic? An Experimental Study with Rats

• Aydin E
• Aydogan F
• Tastan E
• Iriz A
• Karaca G
• Haberal Can I

• KMID: 2134597
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/ceo.2012.5.3.145

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To determine whether systemic administration of voriconazole and caspofungin causes ototoxicity.
METHODS
This study was conducted on 32 healthy male Wistar albino rats. The baseline auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds of all animals were obtained under general anesthesia. Then, the rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (groups I-IV), each group consisting of 8 rats. Rats in group I were injected intraperitoneally with voriconazole 10 mg/kg/day for 7 days, and the rats in the group II were injected intraperitoneally with caspofungin 5 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Group III received 120 mg/kg/day gentamicin for 7 days. Group IV received saline for 7 days. The animals were then observed for 7 days, and on 14th day of the trial, posttreatment ABRs of both ears were recorded.
RESULTS
We did not find any significant differences between pretreatment and posttreatment median ABR thresholds in the voriconazole, caspofungin, or saline groups. In the gentamicin group, there was a statistically significant difference between pretreatment and posttreatment ABR thresholds.
CONCLUSION
Caspofungin and voriconazole did not change ABR thresholds in speech frequencies after a 7-day-period of their administration. We believe that further animal studies must be performed after administration of these agents for a longer time period, and these findings must be consolidated with histopathological investigations.

Keyword

Auditory brainstem responses; Ototoxicity; Otology; Caspofungin; Voriconazole

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Animals
Ear
Echinocandins
Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem
Gentamicins
Humans
Male
Otolaryngology
Pyrimidines
Rats
Triazoles
Echinocandins
Gentamicins
Pyrimidines
Triazoles

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Graphs showing an example of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) for click sitimulus before (A) and after (B) voriconazole administration. ABR thresholds were unchanged before and after voriconazole administration.

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  Fig. 2 Graphs showing an example of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) for click sitimulus before (A) and after (B) caspofungin administration. ABR thresholds before and after caspofungin administration were unchanged.

• 

  Fig. 3 Graphs showing an example of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) for click sitimulus before (A) and after (B) gentamicin administration. ABR thresholds before and after gentamicin administration were changed.

• 

  Fig. 4 The graphic shows median auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) thresholds for click sitimulus before and after treatment in all groups.

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