Rheumatoid arthritis;

Is there a connection between Sjögren’s syndrome and hearing loss?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , Leave a comment

While Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is well known to cause dry eyes, mouth, skin and nose (“sicca”), its association with hearing loss is often underrecognized by patients and clinicians.  In fact, hearing loss has been reported in as many as one-third or more of patients with SS.1-4

A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 observational studies found a 52% pooled prevalence of any type of hearing loss in SS patients (mean age 52 years). Even after excluding studies with moderate (vs low) publication bias, the prevalence remained high (37%).1  A subgroup analysis based on sensorineural, conductive and mixed types of hearing loss (irrespective of severity) found a prevalence of 43%, 5% and 2%, respectively, among SS patients.

A 2020 cross-sectional study involving 30 patients with SS and polyneuropathy undergoing auditory function testing (by pure tone audiometry, Freiburg speech comprehension audiometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and brainstem evoked response audiometry) found hearing loss by pure tone audiometry in 33% of patients with severity ranging from mild (in 60%) to severe (in 10%).2 Overall 80% of patients showed pathological test results on audiometric testing. Interestingly, in those with hearing loss on pure tone audiometry, 80% had asymmetric results.

A potential mechanism for sensorineural hearing loss in SS is the involvement of central nervous system. Of note, other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus have also been associated with hearing loss, possibly related to the vasculitis of vasa nervorum or vasa vasorum.1 Indeed, immunosuppressants such as corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil have been used in the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss associated with autoimmune disorders. Dryness of Eustachian tube has been suggested as risk factor for the development of conductive hearing loss.1

Bonus Pearl: Did you know that SS is the second most common autoimmune rheumatic disease affecting an estimated 4 million cases in the USA alone?3

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References

  1. V, PartalidouS, Siolos P, et al. Prevalence of hearing loss in patients with Sjögren syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology 2023;43:233-44. Prevalence of hearing loss in patients with Sjögren syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis – PubMed (nih.gov)
  2. Seeliger T, Bonig L, Witte T, et al. Hearing dysfunction in patients with Neuro-sjögren: a cross-sectional study. Ann Transl Med 2020;8:1069. Hearing dysfunction in patients with Neuro-Sjögren: a cross-sectional study – PubMed (nih.gov)
  3. Yang TH, Xirasagar S, Cheng YF, et al. Increased prevalence of hearing loss, tinnitus and sudden deafness among patients with Sjögren’s syndrome. RMD Open 2024;10:e003308. Increased prevalence of hearing loss, tinnitus and sudden deafness among patients with Sjögren’s syndrome – PubMed (nih.gov)
  4. Kim KS, Kim HS. Successful treatment of sensorineural hearing loss in Sjögren’s syndrome with corticosteroid. Korean J Intern Med 2016;31:612-615. Successful treatmenParaschou t of sensorineural hearing loss in Sjögren’s syndrome with corticosteroid – PubMed (nih.gov)

 

Disclosures/Disclaimers: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Mercy Hospital-St. Louis, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, their affiliate academic healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

Is there a connection between Sjögren’s syndrome and hearing loss?

My patient with rheumatoid arthritis might have been exposed to tuberculosis. Does immunosuppressive therapy affect the results of interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) testing for latent tuberculosis?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

The weight of the evidence to date suggests that immunosuppressive therapy, including steroids, other oral immunosuppressants and anti-tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) agents, may negatively impact IGRA results.1

In some ways the finding of false-negative IGRA in the setting of immunosuppression is intuitive since many immunosuppressive agents are potent inhibitors of T cells and interferon-gamma response. 1,2 Despite this, the initial reports have been somewhat conflicting which makes a 2016 meta-analysis of the effect of immunosuppressive therapy on IGRA results in patient with autoimmune diseases (eg, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease) particularly timely. 1

This meta-analysis found a significantly lower positive IGRA results among patients on immunosuppressive therapy ( O.R. 0.66, 95% C.I. 0.53-0.83). Breakdown by IGRA test showed a significant association between QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube and lower positive results and a trend toward the same with T-SPOT though the latter did not reach statistical significance with fewer evaluable studies (O.R. 0.81, 95% C.I 0.6-1.1).   Breakdown by type of immunosuppressant showed significantly negative impact of corticossteroids, other oral immunosuppressants, and anti-TNF agents for all. Some studies have reported daily steroid doses as low as 7.5 mg-10 mg may adversely impact T-cell responsiveness in IGRA. 3,4

So, whenever possible, testing for latent TB should be performed before immunosuppressants are initiated.

Bonus Pearl: Did you know that an estimated one-third of the world’s population may have latent TB?

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References

  1. Wong SH, Gao Q, Tsoi KKF, et al. Effect of immunosuppressive therapy on interferon gamma release assay for latent tuberculosis screening in patients with autoimmune diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Thorax 2016;71:64-72. https://thorax.bmj.com/content/thoraxjnl/71/1/64.full.pdf
  2. Sester U, Wilkens H, van Bentum K, et al. Impaired detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis immunity in patents using high levels of immunosuppressive drugs. Eur Respir J 2009;34:702-10. https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/34/3/702
  3. Kleinert S, Kurzai O, Elias J, et al. Comparison of two interferon-gamma release assays and tuberculin skin test for detecting latent tuberculosis in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Ann Rheum Dis 2010;69:782-4. https://ard.bmj.com/content/69/4/782
  4. Ponce de Leon D, Acevedo-Vasquez E, Alvizuri S, et al. Comparison of an interferon-gamma assay with tuberculin skin testing for detection of tuberculosis (TB) infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a TB-endemic population. J Rheumatol 2008;35:776-81. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18398944
My patient with rheumatoid arthritis might have been exposed to tuberculosis. Does immunosuppressive therapy affect the results of interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) testing for latent tuberculosis?

My patient with primary Sjogren’s syndrome has now been diagnosed with COPD despite lack of a significant smoking history. Is there a connection between Sjogren’s syndrome and COPD?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , Leave a comment

Increasing body of evidence suggests that COPD in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (PSS) is not uncommon even among those who never smoked (1).

 
A 2015 study of patients with PSS reported that overall 41% of patients with PSS, including 30% of those who never smoked, fulfilled the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria for COPD. More specifically, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) showed decreased vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV-1)  and DLCO in patients with PSS. Importantly, lab inflammatory and serological features were poorly associated with PFT results, while radiographic signs of interstitial lung disease (ILG) were absent in one-half of patients with PSS and COPD (1).

 
A longitudinal study with a mean follow-up of 11 years found a 37% rate of development of COPD among patients with PSS (2). Another related study reported a poor correlation between respiratory symptoms and COPD disease as assessed by PFTs in PSS, with the authors recommending that PFTs be performed “liberally” in all patients with PSS regardless of symptoms (3).

 
Lastly, a population-based cohort study of female adults found significantly higher rate of COPD among patients with PSS compared to controls (4).

 
Although the exact pathogenic mechanism behind PSS-associated COPD is unclear, xerotrachea and impaired mucocilliary clearance, as well as inflammatory infiltrates in the exocrine glands of the airways, all leading to physical obstruction and bronchial hyperreactivity have been suggested (1).

 

Bonus Pearl: Did you know that COPD is associated with many other autoimmune diseases (eg, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus), and a genetic link has been implicated between COPD and autoimmunity? (5,6).

 

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References
1. Nilsson AM, Diaz S, Theander E, et al. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is common in never-smoking patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome. J Rheumatol 2015;42:464-71. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270907531_Chronic_Obstructive_Pulmonary_Disease_Is_Common_in_Never-smoking_Patients_with_Primary_Sjogren_Syndrome
2. Mandl T, Diaz S, Ekberg O, et al. Frequent development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary SS-result of a longitudinal follow-up. Rheumatology 2012;51:941-46. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/221760110_Frequent_development_of_chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease_in_primary_SS-results_of_a_longitudinal_follow-up
3. Bolmgren VS, Olssson P, Wollmer P, et al. Respiratory symptoms are poor predictors of concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome. Rheumatol Int 2017;37:813-18. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00296-017-3678-5.pdf
4. Shen TC, Wu BR, Chen HJ, et al. Risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in female adults with primary Sjögren’s syndrome. A nationwide population-based cohort study. Medicine 2016; 95:1-6. http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/26962839
5. Hemminki K, Liu X, Ji J et al. Subsequent COPD and lung cancer in patients with autoimmune disease. Eur Respir J 2011;37:463-74. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21282811
6. Ji X, Niu X, Qian J, et al. A phenome-wide association study uncovers a role for autoimmunity in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Resp Cell Mol Biol 2018;58:777-79. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1165/rcmb.2017-0409LE

My patient with primary Sjogren’s syndrome has now been diagnosed with COPD despite lack of a significant smoking history. Is there a connection between Sjogren’s syndrome and COPD?

Does methotrexate reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , 1 Comment

The weight of the evidence suggests that methotrexate reduces the overall risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs)—including myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, and or major adverse cardiac events—in RA patients (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.57-0.91)1.

Aside from its effect on controlling systemic inflammation, methotrexate has also been shown to increase HDL and reduce total cholesterol/HDL ratio in patients with RA compared with treated non-RA controls2. In vitro, methotrexate appears to activate mechanisms involved in reverse transport of cholesterol out of the cell to the circulation for eventual excretion3. Not surprisingly then, methotrexate has also been reported to decrease atherosclerotic plaque burden measured by carotid artery intima-media thickness2.

We tend to think of RA as a disease that primarily causes arthritis but its effects may extend far beyond the joints. Patients with RA have an increased risk of cardiovascular deaths compared to the general population4, likely due to a variety of factors, including accelerated atherosclerosis secondary to chronic inflammation. At baseline, RA patients also have an unfavorable lipid profile with decreased HDL and higher total cholesterol/HDL ratio.

Fun Final Fact: Did you know that methotrexate is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (April 2015) not only as a cancer drug but for treatment of RA as well5?

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References:

  1. Roubille C, Richer V, Starnino T, McCourt C, McFarlane A, Fleming P, Siu S, Kraft J, Lynde C, Pope J, Gulliver W, Keeling S, Dutz J, Bessette L, Bissonnette R, Haraoui B. The effects of tumour necrosis factor inhibitors, methotrexate, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids on cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2015;74:480-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25561362
  2. Georgiadis AN, Voulgari PV, Argyropoulou MI, Alamanos Y, Elisaf M, Tselepis AD, Drosos AA. Early treatment reduces the cardiovascular risk factors in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2008;38:13-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18191989
  3. Reiss AB, Carsons SE, Anwar K, Rao S, Edelman SD, Zhang H, Fernandez P, Cronstein BN, Chan ES. Atheroprotective effects of methotrexate on reverse cholesterol transport proteins and foam cell transformation in human THP-1 monocyte/macrophages. Arthritis Rheum 2008;58:3675-83. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19035488
  4. Aviña-Zubieta JA, Choi HK, Sadatsafavi M, Etminan M, Esdaile JM, Lacaille D. Risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Arthritis Rheum 2008; 59:1690-7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19035419
  5. WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (April 2015). http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/essentialmedicines/en/

 

Contributed by Brian Li, Medical Student, Harvard Medical School

Does methotrexate reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?