Videolaryngoscopic findings in patients with rheumatologic diseases in Manaus, Brazil

Introduction: Rheumatologic diseases produce a number of systemic alterations; among them we can mention the local manifestations in the larynx. Laryngeal symptoms can be the first manifestation of rheumatic diseases, and their correct assessment helps the doctor to identify signs of activity of the disease. Objective: To characterize any laryngoscopic findings in patients affected by rheumatic diseases that are treated in Manaus, Brazil. Methodology: This is a descriptive, qualitative-quantitative and observational study of laryngeal findings in rheumatologic patients, and was conducted at the Department of Otolaryngology and Cervical-Facial Surgery of the Adriano Jorge Hospital Foundation, during the period from May to July 2020, with subsequent analysis by an otolaryngologist. Results: We analyzed 46 patients from the rheumatology outpatient clinic at the foundation. Of these, 26 patients were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and 20 with systemic lupus erythematosus. The most prevalent endoscopic findings were in rheumatoid arthritis: posterior laryngeal edema, supraglottic hyperemia and arytenoid mucosal edema, though these varied in their proportions between the two diseases. Conclusion: Rheumatologic patients presented laryngeal complaints and endoscopic findings suggestive of nonspecific inflammatory processes were observed, which justifies the importance of the evaluation of the otolaryngologist during all phases of the disease.