RESEARCH - Vestibular system dysfunction and auditory impairment in RA

[Guest guest]

Auris Nasus Larynx. 2006 Dec 6; [Epub ahead of print]

Abnormal electronystagmography in rheumatoid arthritis.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Konya Teaching and

Research Center, Baskent University, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: Although sensorineural hearing loss has been widely investigated

in those with rheumatoid arthritis, studies assessing the vestibular system

in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are limited. The aim of this study was

to assess the vestibular system in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS: The study consisted of 43 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 30

healthy controls. Otorhinolaryngologic and neurotologic examinations,

pure-tone audiometry, impedancemetry, electronystagmography including smooth

pursuit, saccade, positional, and caloric tests were performed in all

patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in controls. The erythrocyte

sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, and rheumatoid factor level

were evaluated in all patients with rheumatoid arthritis. RESULTS:

Audiograms revealed sensorineural hearing loss in 12 patients (27.9%) with

rheumatoid arthritis and in two controls (6.6%); the difference was

statistically significant (P=.033). In those with rheumatoid arthritis, the

results of electronystagmography revealed central abnormalities in nine

patients (20.9%), peripheral abnormalities in three (6.9%), and mixed

abnormalities in three (6.9%). Smooth pursuit and saccade tracing

impairments were significantly higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

(P>.05). Canal paresis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis were

significantly higher than those in the control group (P=.039). No

association was found between electronystagmographic abnormalities in

patients with rheumatoid arthritis and age, sex, duration of disease, the

results of laboratory testing, sensorineural hearing loss, or medication

use.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest an association of rheumatoid arthritis with

vestibular system dysfunction as well as auditory impairment.

PMID: 17157467

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Retrieve & dopt=Abstra\

ctPlus & list_uids=17157467

Not an MD