Hearing profile in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Introduction and aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) are chronic, inflammatory diseases with intra and extra articular manifestations. They affect 1% of the population. The auditory system can be affected in the course of these diseases. However, the pathogenesis of hearing impairment in these diseases is not clearly understood. The current work aimed to determine frequency and type of hearing impairment (HI) in patients with RA and SLE and possible correlation with different disease parameters.
 Methodology: Fifty RA and Fifty SLE patients, and 50 healthy, age and sex matched controls, were included. Their age ranged from 35 to 50 years. They were selected from the outpatient clinic of Al-Azhar university hospital (Damietta). HI was evaluated by pure tone audiometry and tympanometry including acoustic reflex threshold test and auditory brain stem response (ABR). Complete medical history and general & local examination were done along with full laboratory and immunological investigation.
 Results: Hearing loss was found in 41(82%) in RA patients and in 19 (38%) in control group. Hearing loss in SLE patients was found in 27(54%) and 15(30%) in control group. In AR patients, the level of hearing loss varied from mild to moderate in 28(56%) and 13(26%) respectively, and in control group was 17(34%) and 2(4%) respectively. In SLE group, level of hearing loss varied from mild to moderate in 19(38%) and 8(16%) respectively, and in control group was 13(26%) and 2(4%).
 Conclusion: There was a high frequency of sensorineural hearing loss in both RA (82%) and SLE (54%) patients compared to normal controls. Careful surveillance of hearing profile in early stages of both diseases is important and follow up testing of hearing status should be part of patient care.