Affiliations: [a] Department of Otolaryngology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan | [b] Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Yi-Ho Young, Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 1, Chang-Te St., Taipei, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 2 23123456 ext 65221; Fax: +886 2 23946674; E-mail:youngyh@ntu.edu.tw
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: This study adopted an inner ear test battery comprising
audiometry, and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP),
cervical VEMP (cVEMP) and caloric tests to assess inner ear function in
patients with long term exposure to organic solvents. METHODS: Eighteen patients exposed to organic solvents and another
18 non-exposed controls from the same environment were enrolled in this
study. Each subject underwent an inner ear test battery. RESULTS: The percentages of abnormalities identified by the oVEMP
test, cVEMP test, audiometry and caloric test for the exposed group were
85%, 54%, 50% and 33%, respectively, which showed significant
differences when compared with the respective 8%, 8%, 6% and 0 for
the non-exposed group. Additionally, a significantly declining trend of
inner ear deficits from the utricle to the saccule, cochlea, and
semicircular canals was noted in the exposed group, but not in the
non-exposed group. CONCLUSION: Ototoxicity was identified in those exposed to organic
solvents, with the sequence of abnormal inner ear function from the utricle
to the saccule, cochlea, and semicircular canals.
