Many autoimmune diseases may have ear, nose, and throat (ENT) manifestations representing a diagnostic challenge for clinicians as they often constitute the initial sign of an otherwise asymptomatic autoimmune disease. Furthermore, otolaryngology manifestations can be overlooked in patients with known autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Autoimmune inner ear disease is a poorly understood form of bilateral, asymmetric, progressive sensorineural hearing loss often associated with a systemic autoimmune disease. Hearing loss and tinnitus may also be seen in patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Cogan’s syndrome, relapsing polychondritis, polyarteritis nodosa, Sjögren’s syndrome, Churg-Strauss syndrome, and Behçet’s disease. Nose and paranasal sinuses can be affected in patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, polychondritis, and sarcoidosis. Recurrent oral mucosal ulcerations can be found with SLE and Behçet’s disease. Salivary gland pathology may be found in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and sarcoidosis, two conditions that may also be associated with xerostomia, trigeminal nerve dysfunction, and peripheral facial nerve palsy. Laryngeal involvement with cricoarytenoid joint alterations can be found in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and gout. Dysphagia has been described in patients with dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis, and SLE.

The aims and scopes of this special issue are to stimulate publication of research, both in the form of original articles and, especially, review papers which describe the current state of the art of otolaryngology manifestations of autoimmune diseases.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Hearing disorders in autoimmune diseases
• Vestibular symptoms in autoimmune diseases
• Nose and paranasal sinuses involvement in autoimmune diseases
• Oral mucosal ulcerations and manifestations in autoimmune diseases
• Salivary gland pathology in autoimmune diseases
• Laryngeal involvement and voice alterations in autoimmune diseases
• Dysphagia in autoimmune diseases
• Trigeminal nerve dysfunction in autoimmune diseases
• Peripheral facial nerve palsy in autoimmune diseases