Perda auditiva em artrite reumatoide: associação com anticorpos anti-proteína citrulinada

Abstract

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has an inflammatory and autoimmune nature. Studies have suggested hearing impairment (HI) as one of RA extra-articular manifestations. Objective: To evaluate hearing function in RA patients, examine weather there is a correlation with autoantibodies and Disease Activity and compare with patients without autoimmune inflammatory joint disease. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study where 43 RA patients and 23 controls from both genders and between 34 and 60 years old had their hearing function evaluated. Patients and controls sera were tested for the presence of Rheumatoid Factor and antibodies against citrullinated C peptide (anti-CCP) and mutated citrullinated vimentine (anti-MCV). The Diseases Activity Score 28/erythrocyte sedimentation rate was applied. Results: HI were observed in 46,5% of RA patients and 30,4% controls (p=0,31), with a higher frequency of the sensorineural (80% versus 85,7%, p=1,00) and bilateral (80% versus 71%, p=0,41) types. RA patients had worse hearing threshold for air conduction in 6KHz in the right (p=0,019) and reducing the amplitude of otoacoustic emissions in 2KHz bilaterally (p=0,04). In the RA group, anti-CCP was positive in 80% and 34,78% of patients with and without HI, respectively ( p = 0,0076 ). Anti- MCV was positive in 85% and 43.48%, (p=0,010). Conclusion: The HI in RA is predominantly sensorineural and is assoated with the presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies.