Objectives: This study aimed to assess the laryngeal affection [laryngoscopy and computed tomography (CT)] in systemic polyarthritis patients [rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)] as well as their correlation to disease duration.
Patients and Methods:A cross-sectional study including 35 consecutive patients with poly arthritis (24 cases (68.6%) with rheumatoid arthritis and 11 cases (31.4%) with SLE who were diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Sociodemographic data, clinical data and laryngopharyngeal complaints were obtained. All cases were examined using videolaygoscopy and computerized tomography (CT).
Results: The patients' age ranged from 21 to 51 years; they were mainly females (94.3%). laryngeal complaints were presented in 80% of the studied patients; difficult swallowing (20%), dyspnea (8.6%), dysphonia (73.3%) and globus pharynges was (71.4%) and had significantly longer duration in SLE patients. On videolaryngoscopy, 31 cases (88.6%) had laryngeal abnormalities; 7 cases (20%) had nodule, all nodules were bilateral. Interarytnoid reaction was noted in 28 cases (80%), arytenoid edema in 27 cases (77.1%) and exaggerated vascular markings in 13 cases (37.1%), no cases showed vocal folds immobilization. On CT imaging, calcification was reported in 29 cases (82.9%).
All laryngeopharyngeal findings weren't related to duration of the disease, except, cases with joints calcification had longer disease duration.
Conclusion: Larygoparyngeal affection is common in autoimmune polyarthritis diseases, and it occurs irrespective to disease duration, joint radiological affection is also prevalent, so laryngopharyngeal and phoniatric assessment and radiological follow up of such cases seems to be beneficial for patient outcome.