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Abstract
Objective: Cochlear implantation trauma causes both macroscopic and inflammatory trauma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the TNF-alpha inhibitor etanercept applied after cochlear implantation trauma on the preservation of acoustic hearing. Design: Guinea pigs were randomly assigned to three groups receiving cochlear implantation trauma by cochleostomy. In one group, the site was sealed by bone cement with no further treatment. A second group was additionally implanted with an osmotic minipump delivering artificial perilymph into the scala tympani for seven days. In the third group, etanercept 1 mg/ml was added to artificial perilymph. Hearing was assessed by auditory brainstem responses at 2, 4, 6, and 8 kHz prior to and after surgery and on days 3, 5, 7, 14, 28. Study sample: Fifteen healthy guinea pigs. Results: The trauma led to threshold shifts from 50.3 dB ± 16.3 dB to 68.0 dB ± 19.3 dB. Hearing thresholds were significantly lower in etanercept-treated animals compared to controls on day 28 at 8 kHz and from day 3 onwards at 4 and 2 kHz (p < 0.01; two-way RM ANOVA / Bonferroni t-test). Conclusion: The application of etanercept led to preservation of acoustic hearing after cochlear implantation trauma.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Prof. Tobias Moser, Dr. Nicola Strenzke, Anna Gehrt, and Gerhard Hoch for technical support. This work is part of the doctoral thesis of Sabrina Pelz. Parts of this work were presented at the 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, May 8–12, 2013 in Nuremberg, Germany.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.
