Insights into elevated distortion product otoacoustic emissions in sickle cell disease: Comparisons of hydroxyurea-treated and non-treated young children

Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were examined in 15 normal-hearing African-American children between the ages of 6 and 14 years with homozygous sickle cell disease (SCD), who were on a regimen of hydroxyurea (HDU), a drug that reduces inflammatory processes and symptoms of SCD; a matched group of 15 African-American children with homozygous SCD not on HDU; and 15 African-American children with normal hemoglobin. DPOAEs were evoked by 13 primary tone pairs with f₂ frequencies ranging from 1000 to 4500 Hz. Increased DPOAE amplitudes, believed to be a precursor of eventual hearing loss, were evident in children with SCD who were not receiving HDU. Those taking HDU had DPOAE amplitudes similar to normal controls. These findings suggest that HDU, in addition to reducing symptoms of SCD, may play a role in inhibiting or preventing cochlear pathology and hearing loss in individuals with SCD.