ABSTRACT:
The aim of the study was to assess the ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity in cancer patients receiving weekly cisplatin therapy. This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in chemotherapy ward, department of radiotherapy, for the duration of six months. This was designed to implement a mixed methods approach. Patient’s baseline Serum Creatinine and Blood Urea Nitrogen values and hearing assessment were noted down from the laboratory data. The patient was followed for three successive chemotherapy schedules. Association between cisplatin and nephrotoxicity was calculated using the Friedman Test. Association between cisplatin and ototoxicity was calculated using Fishers Exact test. Correlation between baseline renal function assessing parameters and other successive chemotherapies was done using Spearman’s Rho test. The level of significance was considered at p<0.05. The mean dose of weekly cisplatin in patients evaluated for nephrotoxicity was 55.74 mg/ sq.m. Statistically, a significant association was found between nephrotoxicity (serum creatinine, p=0.013; blood urea nitrogen, p=0.037) and weekly cisplatin therapy at different times of chemotherapy i.e. at baseline, after chemotherapy 1, chemotherapy 2 and chemotherapy 3. Statistically, significant association was found between the correlation of serum Creatinine with baseline and different times of chemotherapy (Baseline and CT1, p=0.0001; Baseline and CT2, p=0.000001; Baseline and CT3, p<0.000001). The mean dose of cisplatin in patients evaluated for ototoxicity was 55mg/sq.m. There was no statistically significant association between weekly cisplatin dose and ototoxicity (right ear, p=0.302; left ear, p=0.387; both ears, p=0.325) in our study. The ototoxicity of cisplatin has to be assessed in a large number of patients.