Alterations in Voice, Speech and Swallowing in Patients With Sjögren's Syndrome

ObjectiveTo identify and describe voice, speech and swallowing abnormalities in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS).Materials and methodsThis was a prospective cross-sectional descriptive observational study. Patients with SS were interviewed and physically explored. Nasolaryngeal endoscopy, video laryngeal stroboscopy, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and computerized voice spectrographic analysis (PRAAT® software) of voice and speech were also performed.ResultsWe included 31 patients (96.7% women). Average time of evolution was 5 years; mean age was 48.4 years. Of these SS cases, 87% were secondary and 13% primary. Symptomatology: 70.9% dysphagia, 41.9% dysphonia, 35.4% dysglossia, 3.2% dysarthria. We found abnormalities principally in: one or more cranial nerves (V, VII, IX, X, XII) (67.7%), nasopharyngolaryngeal mucosa (77.4%), mucosal wave of vocal cords (90%), swallowing mechanism (90.3%), spectrogram of the vowels /e/ (58.06%) and /i/ (51.61%), and rhythm of the trisyllable “pataka” (35.48%).ConclusionsPatients with SS have voice, speech and swallowing abnormalities, not only associated to xerosis but perhaps also to neurological abnormalities, probably secondary to the syndrome.

ResumenObjetivoIdentificar y describir alteraciones de voz, habla y deglución en pacientes con síndrome de Sjögren (SS).Material y métodosEstudio prospectivo, descriptivo, transversal, observacional. Pacientes con SS fueron interrogados y explorados físicamente, realizamos además nasofibrolaringoendoscopia, videolaringoestroboscopia, evaluación fibroendoscópica de la deglución y análisis espectrográfico computarizado de voz y habla (software PRAAT®).ResultadosIncluimos 31 pacientes (96,7% mujeres), tiempo de evolución promedio 5 años 8 meses, edad promedio 48,4 años. El SS en 87% secundario, en 13% primario. Sintomatología: 70,9% disfagia, 41,9% disfonía, 35,4% disglosias, 3,2% disartria. Encontramos principalmente alteraciones en: uno o más pares craneales (V, VII, IX, X, XII) (67,7%), mucosa nasofaringolaríngea (77,4%), ondulación de la mucosa alterada en cuerdas vocales (90%), mecanismo de la deglución (90,3%), espectrograma de vocales /e/ (58,06%), /i/ (51,61%) y ritmo del trisílabo «pataka» (35,48%).ConclusionesEl SS presenta alteraciones en voz, habla y deglución, quizá no sólo asociadas a xerosis, sino también a trastornos neurológicos probablemente secundarios al síndrome.