[Hearing impairment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the characteristics of hearing loss (HL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
A comparative case-control study was performed with 194 patients and 107 healthy subjects. All of them were submitted to pure-tone audiometry and detection of inflammatory parameters and Western blot for anticochlear antibodies.


RESULTS
HL was detected in 42.7 % of patients with RA (15.9 % in controls; P.001). This was sensorineural in 38.6 %. Three or more altered blood parameters appeared in 28.9 % of patients with RA (17.6 % in controls; P<.01). We observed positive Western blot in 12 % of patients with RA and HL and none among healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a predisposition to HL, mainly sensorineural, in RA. In view of this prevalence, audiologic reviews must be performed to try to determine if this disorder shows an immunomediated aspect so that a therapeutic alternative could modify the course of HL.
García Callejo
Francisco Javier
FJ
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España. jgarciacall@hotmail.com
Conill Tobías
Noemí
N
Muñoz Fernández
Noelia
N
de Paula Vernetta
Carlos
C
Alonso Castañeira
Ignacio
I
Marco Algarra
Jaime
J
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged