title: Laryngeal assessment by videolaryngostroboscopy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the larynx involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a clinical setting and correlate with the different clinical features related to more aggressive disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study including 36 consecutive patients with RA. Reflux symptoms were evaluated by the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and vocal cord impairment by the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). Laryngeal involvement was done by videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 56,3 ± 14 years with a mean disease duration of 2,6 ± 3,1 years (range 0-16 years). Voice use was considered as professional users in 33%. Twenty-four (67%) out of 36 patients had abnormal findings of VLS. One patient had larynx nodules (bamboo nodules). Eleven patients (31%) were diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia, and there were symptoms and signs of pharyngeal-laryngeal reflux in 23 (64%) patients. No signs of cricoarytenoid joint impairment was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Organic larynx involvement was uncommon in patients with RA. However symptoms and signs of pharyngeal-laryngeal reflux were seen in around 60% of patients. There was no correlation between the clinical phenotype, severity of disease, immunological profile or treatment with VLS findings.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Artritis, Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, España; División de Reumatología, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, EE. UU.. Electronic address: jgomezpuerta@partners.org.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gómez-Puerta
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Santiago, Chile; Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cisternas
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Artritis, Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: M Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Artritis, Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Esquide
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vilaseca
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Artritis, Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Raimon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanmartí
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D049489:Stroboscopy; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Afectación laríngea; Artritis reumatoide; Disfonía; Dysphonia; Laryngeal involvement; Rheumatoid arthritis; Videolaringoestroboscopia; Videolaryngostroboscopy