INFO - Hoarseness or changing voice - associated with arthritis?

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Q. Hoarseness Or Changing Voice - Associated With Arthritis?

Can rheumatoid arthritis or any of the rheumatic diseases cause hoarseness

or cause a voice to change? Can vocal cords become inflamed? Are there other

reasons for hoarseness or voice change? Is it possible there is no

connection between arthritis and voice problems?

A. Hoarseness May Be Related To Rheumatoid Arthritis

Up to 30% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis may develop hoarseness. In

most cases, this is not dangerous and is due to the arthritis involvement

of the cricoarytenoid joints. Because these joints rotate with the vocal

cords, they can affect the pitch and tone of the voice.

Should You See A Specialist?

In addition, they can uncommonly affect breathing if the joints become

immobilized.

If hoarseness is chronic, evaluation by an ENT (ear-nose-throat

specialist) is worthwhile to help confirm that the problem is related to

rheumatoid arthritis and not due to other causes. This is especially

important for smokers.

Reference:

MD Textbook of Rheumatology

Answer provided by J. Zashin, M.D., clinical assistant professor

at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Division of

Rheumatology, in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Zashin is also an attending physician at

Presbyterian Hospitals of Dallas and Plano. He is a fellow of the American

College of Physicians and the American College of Rheumatology and a member

of the American Medical Association. Dr. Zashin is author of Arthritis

Without Pain - The Miracle Of Anti-TNF Blockers. The book is a must-have for

anyone on one of the biologic drugs (Enbrel, Remicade, Humira) or

considering the biologic drugs.

http://arthritis.about.com/od/arthritislearnthebasics/f/hoarsevoice.htm

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org