What monitoring is required for cisplatin and carboplatin before treatment starts?

Monitoring with an audiogram before treatment with cisplatin and carboplatin is essential due to the ototoxicity associated with these platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents. Both cisplatin and carboplatin can cause hearing loss, particularly at higher doses and with prolonged exposure. An audiogram helps assess baseline hearing function, enabling healthcare providers to monitor any changes that occur as treatment progresses. This proactive approach allows for appropriate interventions or modifications to the treatment plan if hearing loss starts to develop, thereby protecting the patient’s quality of life.

Other options, while important in other contexts, do not specifically relate to the fundamental concerns associated with these medications. Blood glucose levels, for instance, are not directly influenced by cisplatin or carboplatin. Liver function tests are more relevant for other chemotherapeutic agents that affect the liver, and monitoring ECOG performance status is crucial for assessing patient well-being but does not directly address the specific risks of ototoxicity posed by these medications. Thus, an audiogram is the most relevant monitoring tool prior to treatment with these drugs.