It is not known whether
hearing disorders improves with
kidney transplantation. One of the neurotoxic effects of immunosuppressive drugs may be unrecognized
hearing loss. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the
hearing disorders in kidney transplant patients. Hearing problems in 46 kidney transplant patients [eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (30
Tacrolimus, 16 mTOR inhibitor users)], 23
hemodialysis patients, and 20 healthy controls were evaluated with a questionnaire and high-frequency audiometry. More than half (58.7%) of the transplant patients had at least one hearing problem.
Hearing loss was observed in 50%, 60.9% and 76.1% of the transplant patients at 8,000, 16,000 and 20,000 Hz. Hearing thresholds of transplant and
hemodialysis patients increased from 4,000 to 20,000 Hz and was higher than that of controls. Hearing thresholds were higher at 1,000-2,000 Hz in patients using
tacrolimus and at 16,000-20,000 Hz in patients using mTOR inhibitor. No correlation was found between hearing threshold and blood
tacrolimus or mTOR inhibitor levels. Most kidney transplant and
hemodialysis patients have
hearing loss at higher frequencies than medium frequencies.
Hearing loss in chronic kidney patients is likely to be permanent and
kidney transplantation may not improve hearing problems. Hearing problems may be more pronounced at medium frequencies in patients receiving
tacrolimus but at higher frequencies in patients receiving
mTOR inhibitors.