Recovery of Hearing in Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity in the Guinea Pig with Intratympanic Dexamethasone

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of intratympanic dexamethasone injection as a therapeutic agent against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Animals were randomly divided into three groups. Group one received intraperitoneal cisplatin alone, group two, received intratympanic dexamethasone after cisplatin ototoxicity had been demonstrated. Group three, which is control group, received intratympanic dexamethasone.Then we made three measurements. First we measured the baseline distortion product otoacustic emission (DPOAEs) of all the guine pigs. Second we injected cisplatin intraperitoneal group one and two the same day. Third we measured DPOAEs after 72 h of group one and two. Moreover DPOAEs were measured at the end of the first and second week only in group two. Cochleae were harvested and processed for electron microscopy after then. Values of The DPOAEs amplitudes and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at 1–6 kHz frequencies for group 1 after the injections significantly decreased over those before injections (P < 0.05). In group 3, there were no significant differences in DPOAE amplitude and SNR values When they are compare before and after their intratympanic dexamethasone injections (P > 0.05). In group 2, the DPOAEs measurements were close to significance at the end of the second week (P = 0.056). Intratympanic dexamethasone injection did not cause any ototoxic effect. Although intratympanic dexamethasone did not reach the statistically significant results, the measurements were close to significance. Intratympanic dexamethasone might have a significant therapeutic effect after cisplatin ototoxicity with different dose and application regimens.