Sudden bilateral sensorineural hearing loss after intravenous cocaine injection: a case report and review of the literature

Laryngoscope. 2009 Dec;119(12):2441-3. doi: 10.1002/lary.20711.

Abstract

Little is known about the effects of intravenous abuse of cocaine, especially on the inner ear. We report on a 26-year-old man who presented to our outpatient department with a sudden severe hearing loss after intravenous injection of cocaine. The audiogram on admission showed symmetric air conduction levels up to 80 dB at 4 kHz. After treatment with intravenous sodium chloride, prednisolone, and pentoxifylline, the audiogram 2 days later showed a bilateral normacusis. A review of the literature on the topic is given and possible reasons for inner ear damages caused by cocaine are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Audiometry
  • Cocaine*
  • Hearing / drug effects
  • Hearing / physiology
  • Hearing Loss, Bilateral / chemically induced*
  • Hearing Loss, Bilateral / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss, Bilateral / physiopathology
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / chemically induced*
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / physiopathology
  • Hearing Loss, Sudden / chemically induced*
  • Hearing Loss, Sudden / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss, Sudden / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications*

Substances

  • Cocaine