To evaluate the characteristics of hearing loss (HL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
A comparative case-control study was performed with 194 patients and 107 healthy subjects. All of them were submitted to pure-tone audiometry and detection of inflammatory parameters and Western blot for anticochlear antibodies.
HL was detected in 42.7 % of patients with RA (15.9 % in controls; P.001). This was sensorineural in 38.6 %. Three or more altered blood parameters appeared in 28.9 % of patients with RA (17.6 % in controls; P<.01). We observed positive Western blot in 12 % of patients with RA and HL and none among healthy controls.
There is a predisposition to HL, mainly sensorineural, in RA. In view of this prevalence, audiologic reviews must be performed to try to determine if this disorder shows an immunomediated aspect so that a therapeutic alternative could modify the course of HL.