Abstract
Introduction: Laryngeal involvement in rheumatoid arthritis is a rarely mentioned complication in clinical practice. In the literature over the last 10 years, single articles on the subject have been published, presenting a small number of clinical cases. Cricoarytenoid arthritis is a life-threatening condition requiring timely anesthesia and otorhinolaryngological intervention, where the tracheostomy has an important therapeutic place. Aim: With the presentation of our clinical case we aim to expand the knowledge about systemic diseases and their possible acute manifestation in otorhinolaryngological practice. Materials and methods: We present a clinical case of patient M.S., 63 years old, female, with a long medical history of rheumatoid arthritis. She was admitted to the clinic with a tracheostomy cannula placed for acute laryngeal dyspnea. Physical examination with a fibrolaryngoscope revealed bilateral paresis of the vocal folds, in a medial position, without phonatory and respiratory activity. Computer tomography of the neck, chest, with a focus on the mediastinum – without clinical data on tumor processes. Laboratory tests reveal a repeatedly elevated rheumatoid factor. Results: MRI revealed a collapse of the larynx, with pronounced fatty degeneration of the thyroarytenoid and cricoarytenoid muscles. The patient was referred to a rheumatologist to control the chronic exacerbation process, with a definitive tracheostomy cannula. Conclusion: Pathological changes in the cricoarytenoid joint in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as scleroderma, lupus, Felty’s syndrome, Tiez syndrome and other systemic diseases, are a common finding, although diagnosed in the past at autopsy. It can be acute, subacute and chronic, but in otorhinolaryngological practice it occupies an important clinical place in emergencies.
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