HEARING LOSS IN RHEUMATOID ARHRITIS

The incidence of hearing loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the treatment have been differently reported. The aims of this study were to establish the presence and to differentiate the type of hearing loss in patients with RA, and to investigate the results of corticosteroid and methotrexate treatment on hearing loss in RA. Longitudinal, prospective study included 87 patients aged between 18 and 70 years diagnosed with RA. Disease Activity Score (DAS 28 Se) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were measured. 38 Patients were treated with prednisone; intratympanic appliction was used in 11 persons, and in case of weak or absent improvement after steroids methotrexate was applied for further treatment. Predominantly sensorineural hearing loss was present in 56.3% of the patients, without correlation with the duration of disease and clinical activity of RA. Corticosteroid therapy, both peroral or intratympanic contributed to hearing improvement in 60.0%. Audiometric tests are recommended in patients who suffer from RA in order to control hearing in rheumatoid arthritis and analyze the effect of proposed therapeutic procedures.