Evaluation of Hearing Functions with Audiological Tests in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Year 2016, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 63 - 68, 01.03.2016

Selma Evran Uzun Adem Yıldırım Sedat Doğan Gülseren Dost Sürücü Mehmet Karabiber Yasin Sarıkaya

https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei.328683

Abstract

Objective: Aim of this study was to show the effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on auditory system using pure tone
audiometer and tympanometric assessments and to compare these values with healthy controls.
Methods: This study included 107 subjects: 57 RA patients who were being followed at our clinic with a RA diagnosis
and 50 healthy controls who had similar age and gender properties. Besides clinical and laboratory findings audiometric,
and tympanometric tests and stapes reflex measurements were compared for all patients.
Results: Results of this study showed statistically significant differences in air conduction thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and
6 kHz frequencies between RA patients and controls. In RA patients, bone conduction was affected only at 4 kHz and
more in left ear. Additionally, air-bone conduction differences were significant except at 2 kHz. Although air-bone conduction
difference was higher in the study group than the control group, this was not statistically significant. Similarly
no significant difference was detected in stapes reflex and tympanometric measurements between RA patients and
healthy controls statistically.
Conclusion: This study showed that conduction type hearing loss is seen more frequently in RA patients and bone
conduction is affected at high frequencies in particular. Moreover, No significant differences were seen in stapes reflex,
compliance and pressure measures between groups. J Clin Exp Invest 2016; 7 (1): 63-68

Keywords

Rheumatoid arthritis, pure tone audiometer, hearing loss

References

• 1. Takatsu M, Higaki M, Kinoshita H, et al. Ear involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Otology & Neurotology 2005;26:755-761.
• 2. Rigual N. Otolaryngologic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. Ear Nose Throat J 1987;66:436-439.
• 3. Worth TH, Liyanage S. A pilot survey of hearing loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Rheumatol. 1972; 1:81-83.Kakani R, Mehra Y, Deodhar S, et al. Audiovestibular functions in rheumatoid arthritis. J Otolaryngol 1990;19:100-102.
• 4. Kakani R, Mehra Y, Deodhar S, et al. Audiovestibular functions in rheumatoid arthritis. J Otolaryngol 1990;19:100- 102.
• 5. Kastanioudakis I, Skevas A, Danielidis V, et al. Inner ear involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective clinical study. J Laryngol Otol 1995;109:713-718.
• 6. Öztürk A, Yalçin Ş, Kaygusuz IR, et al. High-frequency hearing loss and middle ear involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Otolaryngol 2004;25:411-417.
• 7. Pascual-Ramos V, Contreras-Yáñez I, Enríquez L, et al. Hearing impairment in a tertiary-care-level population of Mexican rheumatoid arthritis patients. J Clin Rheumatol 2012;18:393-398.
• 8. Özcan M, Karakuş FM, Gündüz O, et al. Hearing loss and middle ear involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int 2002;22:16-19.
• 9. Magaro M, Zoli A, Altomonte L, et al. Sensorineural hearing loss in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1989;8:487-490.
• 10. Raut VV, Cullen J, Cathers G. Hearing loss in rheumatoid arthritis. J Otolaryngol 2001;30:289-294.
• 11. Biasi D, Fiorino F, Carletto A, et al. Middle ear function in rheumatoid arthritis: a multiple frequency tympanometric study. Clin Exp Rheumatol 1995;14:243-247.
• 12. Jung T, Rhee C, Lee C, et al. Ototoxicity of salicylate, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and quinine. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 1993;26:791-810.
• 13. Colletti V, Fiorino FG, Bruni L, Biasi D. Middle ear mechanics in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis. Audiology 1997;36:136-146.
• 14. Ergin S. Romatoid Artrit ve Sjögren Sendromu. In: Beyazova M, Gökçe- Kutsal Y, eds. Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Cilt 2, Güneş Kitabevi Ltd. Şti, Ankara 2000:1549-1576.
• 15. Elwany S, el Garf A, Kamel T. Hearing and middle ear function in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 1986;13:878-881.
• 16. Bozkurt M, Gün R, Gür A, ve ark. Romatoid artritli hastalarda sensörinöral işitme kaybı. Dicle Tıp Dergisi 2011;38:184-188
• 17. Dikici O, Muluk NB, Tosun AK, Ünlüsoy I. Subjective audiological tests and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: analysis of the factors affecting hearing levels. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2009;266:1719-1726.
• 18. Reiter D, Konkle DF, Myers AR, et.al. Middle ear emittances in rheumatoid arthritis. Arch Otolaryngol 1980;106:114- 117.
• 19. Hughes GB, Nalepa NJ, Kinney SE, Barna BP, Calabrese LH. Clinical diagnosis of immune inner‐ear disease. Laryngoscope 1988;98:251-253.
• 20. Salvinelli F, Cancilleri F, Casale M, et al. Hearing thresholds in patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 2004;29:75-79.
• 21. Özkırış M, Kapusuz Z, Günaydın İ, et.al. Does rheumatoid arthritis have an effect on audiovestibular tests? Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2014;271:1383-1387.
• 22. Goodwill C, Lord I, Jones R. Hearing in rheumatoid arthritis. A clinical and audiometric survey. Ann Rheum Dis 1972;31:170.
• 23. Frade C, Martin C. Diagnostic value of the multifrequency tympanometry in active rheumatoid arthritis. Auris Nasus Larynx 1998;25:131-136.
• 24. Halligan CS, Bauch CD, Brey RH, et al. Hearing loss in rheumatoid arthritis. Laryngoscope 2006;116:2044-2049.
• 25. Giannini P, Marciano E, Saulino C, et al. Middle ear involvement in children with chronic rheumatoid juvenile arthritis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 1997;254:30-33.
• 26. Wiley T, Block M. Overview and basic principles of acoustic emittance measurements. In: Handbook of clinical audiology, Williams and Wilkins Company Baltimore 1985:423-437.