Laryngeal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Otolaryngology
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease primarily affecting joints but can involve other organs.
• Laryngeal manifestations in RA are not well-documented, yet can significantly impact quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of laryngeal involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• To assess the occurrence of extrathoracic airway obstruction in RA patients.
• To explore the relationship between RA disease activity markers and laryngeal involvement.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 29 female patients with definite or classical RA and 30 controls.
• Assessment included physical examination, direct fiberoptic laryngoscopy, respiratory function tests (spirometry), and low-voltage radiography.
• Disease activity was evaluated using erythrocyte sedimentation rate and class-specific rheumatoid factors.

Main Results:

• Laryngeal involvement was detected in 59% of RA patients via physical examination.
• Overall, 69% of RA patients exhibited one or more signs of laryngeal involvement.
• Breathing difficulties were reported by 75% of RA patients with laryngeal involvement.
• Extrathoracic airway obstruction was indicated in 14% by spirometry and 10% by radiography.
• No correlation was found between laryngeal involvement and erythrocyte sedimentation rate or rheumatoid factor levels.

Conclusions:

• Laryngeal involvement is common in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
• Laryngeal involvement in RA may contribute to symptoms of breathing difficulties.
• Disease activity markers like ESR and RF do not appear to predict laryngeal involvement in RA.