Conclusion. Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) patients present with both conductive and sensorineural deafness. Objective. To evaluate the prevalence and features of hearing impairment in patients with RA. Material and methods. A total of 28 RA patients underwent a rheumatological evaluation, including determination of rheumatoid factor, protein 2-glycoprotein I level and the Lee index. An audiological assessment consisting of pure-tone audiometry ( PTA) and determination of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) was performed. The results were compared with those of 28 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Four selected RA patients underwent stapedectomy; PTA and TEOAEs were evaluated 6 months postoperatively. Results. Increased air conduction thresholds at 250, 500 and 1000 Hz were found in RA subjects in comparison to controls (p< 0.001). RA patients showed higher air - bone gaps in PTA ( p< 0.05) and an increased Wave I latency in ABRs ( p = 0.03). Decreased reproducibility ( p< 0.001) and amplitude ( p< 0.001) of TEOAEs were found in RA subjects in comparison to controls. A significant correlation between disease duration and echo amplitude was noticed ( r = 0.389). After stapedectomy, a reduction in the air - bone conduction gap ( 11 vs 2 dB HL) was noticed; no significant difference in TEOAEs was found.
Auditory pathway in rheumatoid arthritis. A comparative study and surgical perspectives
Casale M;
2006-01-01
Abstract
Conclusion. Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) patients present with both conductive and sensorineural deafness. Objective. To evaluate the prevalence and features of hearing impairment in patients with RA. Material and methods. A total of 28 RA patients underwent a rheumatological evaluation, including determination of rheumatoid factor, protein 2-glycoprotein I level and the Lee index. An audiological assessment consisting of pure-tone audiometry ( PTA) and determination of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) was performed. The results were compared with those of 28 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Four selected RA patients underwent stapedectomy; PTA and TEOAEs were evaluated 6 months postoperatively. Results. Increased air conduction thresholds at 250, 500 and 1000 Hz were found in RA subjects in comparison to controls (p< 0.001). RA patients showed higher air - bone gaps in PTA ( p< 0.05) and an increased Wave I latency in ABRs ( p = 0.03). Decreased reproducibility ( p< 0.001) and amplitude ( p< 0.001) of TEOAEs were found in RA subjects in comparison to controls. A significant correlation between disease duration and echo amplitude was noticed ( r = 0.389). After stapedectomy, a reduction in the air - bone conduction gap ( 11 vs 2 dB HL) was noticed; no significant difference in TEOAEs was found.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
