Abstract
We examined the auditory function of 29 subjects affected by homozygous beta-thalassemia, managed with an high transfusion scheme and regularly treated with 40-60 mg/kg/day of desferrioxamine. A group of 29 healthy subjects is studied as control. We found conductive hearing defect in 8 thalassemics (6 bilateral) and sensory-neural hearing loss at high frequencies in 4. Thalassemic patients showed more auditory impairment than controls, an higher incidence of tonsillar hypertrophy, adenotonsillitis and submandibular lymph-node enlargement.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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English Abstract
MeSH terms
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Acoustic Impedance Tests
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Audiometry
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Deferoxamine / adverse effects
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Female
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Hearing Disorders / chemically induced
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Hearing Disorders / diagnosis
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Hearing Disorders / etiology*
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Hearing Loss, Conductive / chemically induced
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Hearing Loss, Conductive / diagnosis
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Hearing Loss, Conductive / etiology
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Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / chemically induced
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Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / diagnosis
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Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / etiology
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Homozygote
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Humans
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Male
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Risk
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Thalassemia / complications*
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Thalassemia / drug therapy
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Thalassemia / genetics