Letters
Aminoglycoside ototoxicity
Vestibular function is also vulnerable
BMJ 2007; 335 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39388.451019.1F (Published 08 November 2007) Cite this as: BMJ 2007;335:952
- Barry M Seemungal, honorary research clinician,
- Adolfo M Bronstein, professor of clinical neurology and neuro-otology
- Neuro-otology Unit, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Imperial College, Charing Cross Hospital, London W6 8RF
- b.seemungal{at}imperial.ac.uk
We are concerned to correct a common misconception—namely, that ototoxicity is synonymous with deafness. Except for the rare cases of mitochondrial mutations discussed by Bitner-Glindzicz and Rahman, vestibular function is much more sensitive to aminoglycosides than hearing function.1 Ninety per cent of patients with gentamicin associated vestibular loss will not be deaf.2 …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £173 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£38 / $45 / €42 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.