Prospective Assessment of Otologic Adverse Events due to Teprotumumab: Preliminary Results

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo assess a series of patients receiving teprotumumab therapy and objectively quantify the rates of otologic adverse events.Study DesignA prospective cohort study of adult patients receiving teprotumumab between May 2020 and January 2022.SettingTertiary referral center.MethodsPrior to treatment initiation, an ototoxicity‐specific audiometric battery was completed, which included conventional audiometry (frequencies 250‐8000 Hz), ultrahigh‐frequency audiometry (9000‐20,000 Hz), tympanometry, speech discrimination scores, and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). Testing was then repeated after treatment completion.ResultsIn total, 35 patients were recruited, with a median (range) age of 48.5 years (21‐74), and 8 (22.8%) were male. The most common subjective symptom reported was a hearing decline (25.7%), followed by aural fullness (17.1%) and tinnitus (14.3%). Fourteen patients had both pre‐ and posttreatment audiometric data. Among them, 3 patients (21.4%) were found to have changes in standard frequency audiometry, and 10 (71.4%) had changes in high‐frequency audiometry, with 2 patients having changes in both. Less than half (n = 5) of the 11 patients with changes in standard or high‐frequency pure tone hearing noted subjective hearing decline. Changes in DPOAE were noted in 4 patients out of 13 (30.7%). Two patients discontinued treatment due to hearing decline. Finally, 3 patients (8.6%) were diagnosed with patulous eustachian tube (PET) by an otolaryngologist, and another 3 patients are suspected to have PET based on symptom description during ophthalmologic follow‐up.ConclusionIn our cohort, a high incidence of otologic symptoms was found to be associated with teprotumumab usage. Subjective hearing decline, changes in ultrahigh‐frequency hearing as well as eustachian tube dysfunction may be encountered and suggest the potential ototoxicity of teprotumumab.