Assessment of laryngeal affection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACT

Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the synovial membrane, which causes joint damage and bone destruction. The crico arytenoid joint is a true diarthroidial synovial joint that can be affected by RA. In this study, disease activity, clinical assessment of the larynx, fiberoptic nasolaryngoscopy and Multi-Slides Computed Tomography [MSCT] were done to 20 RA patients in order to define the laryngeal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis patients. 14 of the 20 patients [70%] had laryngeal symptoms related to CA arthritis. Laryngeal endoscopy showed abnormalities in 9 of 20 patients [45%]. 5 of the 20 patients [25%], had abnormal radiologic findings related to CA arthritis. Laryngeal symptoms attributable to laryngeal involvement could be predictive of abnormal endoscopic and radiologic findings. Laryngeal involvement in RA could be attributed to the current disease activity and are more frequent with longer disease duration