Ototoxic protection of sodium thiosulfate: daily vs constant infusion.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the effect of a daily dose of sodium thiosulfate (STS) to continuous infusion of STS on Hartley albino guinea pig (HAGP) on cisplatin (CP)-induced sensorineural hearing loss.Study design Prospective randomized pilot study comparing a single daily dose of STS to a constant controlled infusion of STS given the middle ear space (MES) with an ototoxic regimen of CP. The hearing thresholds will be obtained by auditory brainstem response (ABR) 1 week before and after treatment. Treatment effects on responses at 2, 8, and 16 kHz signals will be investigated by an analysis of variance with one between subjects' condition and two within subjects' conditions. SETTING: Basic science laboratory. RESULTS: STS protection resulted in significantly less hearing loss post-treatment for the protected ears. Guinea pigs with continuous infusion of STS demonstrated less loss in the protected ear than those who received the single daily dose. As expected, hearing loss at 2 kHz was less than that at 8 and 16 kHz. CONCLUSION: A continuous infusion of STS directly to the MES is better than a single daily dose of STS to the MES in reducing the ototoxicity of CP. SIGNIFICANCE: Any targeted protection, whether by continuous infusion or daily dose, is better than no protection against the sensorineural hearing loss of CP.