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Rheumatoid Arthritis and Voice Box

09/10/2010

Question:

How does RA affect the voice box? How common is it? What are the symptoms?

 

Answer:

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect the cricoarytenoid joint, the joint that allows the vocal cords to move in and out as we speak.  Such involvement is more common in women than in men with RA, involving the larynx in 65% of women with the disease.  However, only a quarter of patients with RA will have laryngeal symptoms.  These might include hoarseness, a foreign body sensation, pain, coughing, or even breathing problems. 

For more information:

Go to the Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders health topic.