Permanent Deafness Associated with Furosemide Administration

Six cases of hearing impairment have been presented. Furosemide was administered to all of these patients at the time of the alleged onset of the deafness. None of the known or suspected causes of deafness occurring in transplant patients was evident in these cases. With the experimental evidence that furosemide does induce stria damage and the absence of other recognized causes of deafness in this series of patients, furosemide must be considered the etiologic agent responsible for the permanent sensorineural hearing loss. A characteristic audiometric pattern of hearing impairment emerged and a possible explanation for these features has been given. Certain precautionary steps in the use of ototoxic drugs are suggested.