Systemic sclerosis (SS) is a rare autoimmune disease that can affect the skin and internal organs like lungs, heart, bowel and kidneys, which are responsible for the main part of the morbidity associated with this disease. In Otolaryngology, the main complaint that is seen in these patients is dysphagia, but there are other symptoms, like deafness and dizziness that may not be life threatening, but do affect the quality of life. According to the available evidence, the ear involvement might be related to microvascular changes occurring in the stria vascularis, leading to fibrosis involving de basal portion of the cochlea, therefore, compromising high frequencies. In addition, it might be responsible for the hair cells loss that has been seen in some patients. It has been reported that patients with SS present more frequently dizziness and vertigo, but the exact mechanisms behind this compromise is unknown. On the other hand, dysphagia is caused by a variety of mechanisms involved in the different stages of deglutition and is associated with higher mortality. Therefore, knowing that SS can explain these symptoms may aid in making an early diagnosis improving not only the quality of life, but also the patients’ prognosis.
Pulgar C., R. (2025). Esclerosis sistémica como diagnóstico diferencial en otorrinolaringología: revisión narrativa de la bibliografía. Revista Hospital Clínico Universidad De Chile, 36(2), 116–24. https://doi.org/10.5354/2735-7996.2025.79930
