Abstract
Many cases of cricoarytenoid arthritis associated with collagen disease have been reported in western countries, while such cases are rare in Japan. A case of cricoarytenoid arthritis caused by rheumatoid arthritis has been reported. The case is a 40 year-old woman with a history of rheumatoid arthritis. Despite steroid therapy, her condition aggravated gradually for 10 years. After 10 years she complained of sore throat, hoarseness and increasing inspiratory dyspnea. Fiberscopic examination revealed swelling on the arytenoid. The left vocal cord was fixed at the paramedian position, and the movement of the right vocal cord was slightly disturbed. Subglottic edema was observed. Immediately after admission, a tracheostomy was performed for relief of dyspnea. Systemic antibiotic and steroid therapy was initiated. The steroid was injected to the subglottic edema. With this therapy, the vocal cord movement was normalized, and the hoarseness and dyspnea disappeared within 7 days.
