OTOTOXICITY RESULTING FROM COMBINED ADMINISTRATION OF CISPLATIN AND GENTAMICIN

The hypothesis that cisplatin can augment the ototoxicity of gentamici n was tested, Seven groups of 11 guinea pigs each were given a single dose of cisplatin either alone or 14 days before, at the beginning, mi dway through, or at the end of a course of gentamicin administered dai ly for 14 days, Blood and perilymph gentamicin and cisplatin concentra tions were determined in three of the animals from each group. Auditor y damage was determined in the remaining 8 animals electrophysiologica lly by measuring the compound action potential and alternating-current cochlear potential, Hair cell damage was determined using the surface preparation technique, An augmented ototoxic effect occurred when the cisplatin was given early in the 14-day course of gentamicin and did not occur when it was given at the end of treatment.