Is Isoniazid Ototoxic in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis?

Drug-induced ototoxicity might sometimes be a problem in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients. However, ototoxicity secondary to isoniazid intake has not been reported in ESRF until now. During the last decade, ototoxicity was diagnosed in 16.6% (7/42) of our ESRF patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) who also used antituberculosis therapy. Streptomycin was not included in any of these regimens, isoniazid was used by all 7 patients with ototoxicity and there was reversal of hearing loss in 2 of these patients after discontinuation of isoniazid. In our ESRF-HD patients who developed ototoxicity during the course of antituberculosis therapy, isoniazid was probably the responsible agent either alone or it added to the side effects of other drugs.