Audiological evaluation in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated by direct-action antivirals

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To verify whether treatment with hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals has adverse effects on hearing.

Methods

The sample consisted of 16 individuals with hepatitis C virus, of both sexes, with an average age of 51 years. Individuals with conductive or mixed hearing loss who presented risk factors for hearing loss were excluded from the group. The evaluation was carried out in two moments: before the use of direct-acting antivirals and after the three-month treatment. It included the following procedures: anamnesis, external auditory canal inspection, pure tone audiometry, speech reception threshold, speech recognition index, acoustic immittance measures and transient and distortion product otoacoustic emissions.

Results

There was a low incidence of tinnitus and vertigo. There was no statistically significant difference between the results of the pre- and post-treatment assessment.

Conclusion

The treatment with direct-acting antivirals against the hepatitis C virus did not cause any adverse effects on hearing function.

Keywords:
Hearing; Hearing Loss; Hepat itis C; Cochlea; Direct-acting antivirals