Kanamycin Deafness

Abstract

The authors present the findings in the temporal bones of a patient who suffered profound hearing loss following the administration of Kanamycin. Tissue fixative solution was injected into the middle ears immediately following death and the temporal bones were removed for further histological preparation two hours later. Serial sections were prepared in the horizontal plane and the the histopathological changes were spacially determined by graphic reconstruction.The most significant change was a severe loss of outer and inner hair cells of the organ of Corti. The supporting elements of the organ of Corti as well as the stria vascularis. spiral ligament, spiral prominence, tectorial membrane, limbus, etc. were normal. The spiral ganglion showed no degenerative changes and the vestibular end-organs and ganglia appeared normal.One of the factors in Kanamycin ototoxicity in this patient was the presence of long-standing renal failure. It is suggested that kidney and liver function tests and audiometric tests have been performed before and during periods of Kanamycin administration.