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Sensorineural hearing loss in rheumatoid arthritis
M Magaro1, A Zoli, L Altomonte
1Istituto di Clinica Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
|September 1, 1990
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis patients frequently experience hearing impairment, with sensorineural hearing loss linked to active disease. Auditory brainstem responses help differentiate cochlear from retrocochlear involvement.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Rheumatology
- Audiology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease.
- RA can affect various organs, including the auditory system.
- Hearing impairment is a potential complication in RA patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of hearing impairment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- To differentiate between cochlear and retrocochlear involvement using audiological tests.
- To explore the correlation between hearing loss and disease activity in RA.
Main Methods:
- Pure tone audiometry thresholds
- Tympanometry
- Stapedial reflex threshold testing
- Auditory brainstem responses (ABR)
Main Results:
- Hearing impairment was observed in 55% of the 20 RA patients.
- No conductive hearing loss or absence of stapedius reflex was recorded.
- Abnormal audiograms with normal ABR suggested cochlear involvement.
- Abnormal audiograms with abnormal ABR and stapedial reflex suggested retrocochlear involvement.
- Sensorineural hearing loss correlated significantly with active RA and rheumatoid factor presence.
Conclusions:
- Hearing impairment is common in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- Auditory brainstem responses are valuable in localizing auditory pathway lesions.
- Sensorineural hearing loss in RA is associated with disease activity and rheumatoid factor.