Is Hearing Impairment Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Review
Amir Emamifar1, *, Kristine Bjoerndal2, Inger M.J. Hansen1
1 Department of Rheumatology, Odense University Hospital, Svendborg Hospital, Denmark
2 Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Denmark
Abstract
Background:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, inflammatory disease that affects 1% of the population. The auditory system may be involved during the course of disease; however the association of RA and hearing impairment has not been clearly defined.
Objective:
The objective of this review is to evaluate published clinical reports related to hearing impairment in patients with RA. Furthermore, we discuss possible pathologies and associated factors as well as new treatment modalities.
Method:
A thorough literature search was performed using available databases including Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane and ComDisDome to cover all relative reports. The following keywords were used: hearing loss, hearing difficulties, hearing disorders, hearing impairment, sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, autoimmune hearing loss, drug ototoxicity, drug-induced hearing loss, hearing test, audiometry, auditory dysfunction and rheumatoid arthritis.
Conclusion:
Based on our review it can be postulated that patients with RA are at higher risk of hearing impairment compared to healthy subjects in their course of the disease. The hearing impairment in RA seems to be a multifactorial condition; however the mechanisms of injury, as well as the relative risk factors, are not completely clear. This review can aid to clarify this condition and is a guide for further evaluation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review of hearing impairment in RA.
Keywords: Audiometry, Conductive hearing loss, Hearing impairment, Hearing loss, Mixed hearing loss, Sensorineural hearing loss, Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Article Information
Article History:
Received Date: 14/8/2015
Revision Received Date: 11/12/2015
Acceptance Date: 19/1/2016
Electronic publication date: 15/3/2016
Collection year: 2016
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© Emamifar et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.
open-access license:
This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International Public License (CC BY-NC 4.0)
(
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode), which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the
work is properly cited.
* Address correspondence to this author at the
Department of Rheumatology, Odense University Hospital, Svendborg Hospital, Denmark; Tel: +4551670948;
Fax: +45 63202282;
Email:
amir.emamifar@rsyd.dk
Open Peer Review Details |
Manuscript submitted on 14-8-2015 |
Original Manuscript |
Is Hearing Impairment Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Review |