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

Background

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.

Methods

A PRISMA 2020-based systematic review was conducted using predefined eligibility criteria targeting vestibular outcomes in autoimmune and systemic rheumatologic diseases. Observational studies reporting vestibular symptoms and/or objective vestibular test results were included. Vestibular data were extracted even when studies reported combined audiovestibular outcomes. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.

Results

Twenty-seven studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, comprising 14 primary observational studies and 13 reviews. Vestibular involvement was reported across multiple diseases, including systemic sclerosis, giant cell arteritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, Behçet disease, primary Sjögren syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, and vasculitic disorders. Objective vestibular abnormalities were most frequently identified using caloric testing, balance integration measures, videonystagmography, and video head impulse testing. Systemic sclerosis and giant cell arteritis showed more consistently reported vestibular findings, although heterogeneity in assessment methods precluded quantitative synthesis.

Conclusions

Vestibular involvement occurs across autoimmune and systemic inflammatory diseases, but overall certainty of evidence remains limited. Standardized vestibular assessment and longitudinal studies are needed to better define disease-specific vestibular phenotypes.