Vestibular Involvement in Systemic Autoimmune and Rheumatologic Diseases: A Systematic Review and GRADE-Based Assessment

Vestibular symptoms and objective vestibular dysfunction have been reported in patients with autoimmune and rheumatologic diseases, but available evidence remains fragmented and methodologically heterogeneous. Previous studies have often addressed audiovestibular involvement as a combined entity, limiting disease-specific interpretation of vestibular outcomes.

Audiologists and vestibular specialists should screen patients with systemic autoimmune or rheumatologic diseases for vestibular dysfunction, as this review provides GRADE-assessed evidence supporting the association; specific protocol changes depend on the individual disease and evidence grade reported.

Establishing a GRADE-rated evidence base for vestibular involvement in autoimmune diseases could prompt earlier vestibular referrals and integrated care between audiologists and rheumatologists.

1. 01Systematic review used GRADE methodology to assess quality of evidence for vestibular dysfunction in autoimmune/rheumatologic diseases.
2. 02Both subjective vestibular symptoms and objective dysfunction were examined across multiple disease types.
3. 03Association between systemic autoimmune diseases and vestibular involvement appears supported but evidence quality varies by disease.
4. 04GRADE framework highlights where high-quality evidence is lacking, guiding future research priorities.
5. 05Clinical integration between audiology/vestibular and rheumatology services is implied by these findings.

PMID

42074644

DOI

10.3390/jcm15082841.

Journal

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Publication type

systematic_review

Evidence level

1a

Population

Patients with systemic autoimmune and rheumatologic diseases

Intervention

Assessment of vestibular symptoms and objective vestibular dysfunction