Researchers found that unusual bumps in the throat called “bamboo nodules” may be connected to autoimmune diseases—conditions where the body’s immune system attacks itself. This small study looked at three women who all had voice problems and autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The good news? Voice therapy and other treatments helped improve their voices. While this is rare, doctors should watch for this connection when patients with autoimmune diseases have voice problems.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether rare bumps in the throat (called bamboo nodules) are connected to autoimmune diseases and how to treat voice problems caused by them
  • Who participated: Three women who all had voice problems and were already diagnosed with autoimmune diseases affecting their immune systems
  • Key finding: All three women with bamboo nodules had autoimmune diseases, suggesting these throat bumps may be a sign of these conditions. Voice therapy and steroid injections helped improve their voices.
  • What it means for you: If you have an autoimmune disease and unexplained voice problems, doctors should check for bamboo nodules. This is very rare, but knowing about it may help with diagnosis and treatment. Talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet or medications.

The Research Details

This study looked back at three patients who had already been treated for rare throat bumps called bamboo nodules. The researchers reviewed their medical records to see what they had in common. All three patients were women who had voice problems and had been diagnosed with autoimmune diseases—conditions where the body’s defense system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. The researchers collected information about their symptoms, test results, and what treatments helped them feel better.

By studying these cases together, doctors can start to understand if bamboo nodules are actually a sign of autoimmune disease. This helps doctors know what to look for and how to help patients. Even though it’s a small study, it points doctors toward important questions to investigate further.

This is a very small study with only three patients, so the findings are preliminary. The study is based on looking back at past medical records rather than following patients forward over time. Because it’s so small, we can’t be certain these findings apply to everyone. However, it’s valuable because it identifies a pattern that doctors should watch for and study more carefully.

What the Results Show

All three women in the study had voice problems (hoarseness or difficulty speaking clearly) and all three had autoimmune diseases. One woman had a condition called vasculitis that affects blood vessels. Another woman had both lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The third woman had rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome, which affects moisture-producing glands. This pattern suggests that bamboo nodules may be connected to autoimmune diseases. When doctors treated the voice problems with voice therapy—exercises and techniques to improve how the voice works—the women’s voices improved. Some women also received steroid injections directly into the nodules, which also helped.

The study found that treating other problems that make voice worse, like acid reflux, also helped improve voice quality. One patient had elevated inflammation markers in blood tests, which is common in autoimmune diseases. The researchers noted that future studies should look at whether special diets (removing gluten or dairy) or stronger immune-suppressing medications might help these patients.

This study adds to a small amount of existing research showing that bamboo nodules can appear in people with autoimmune diseases. Previous reports have mentioned this connection, but this case series helps confirm the pattern. The finding that voice therapy helps is consistent with how doctors treat other voice problems.

This study is very small with only three patients, so we can’t be sure the findings apply to many people. It’s a case report looking backward at past medical records, not a controlled study comparing treatment options. We don’t know how common bamboo nodules actually are in people with autoimmune diseases because the study didn’t look at large numbers of patients. More research with more patients is needed to confirm these findings.

The Bottom Line

If you have an autoimmune disease and develop voice problems that don’t go away, ask your doctor to check for bamboo nodules. Voice therapy should be tried first as a safe, effective treatment. Treating acid reflux if you have it may also help. Steroid injections into the nodules may help some patients. Before trying diet changes or new medications, discuss with your rheumatologist or ear, nose, and throat doctor. (Confidence level: Low to Moderate—based on only three cases)

People with autoimmune diseases who develop unexplained voice problems should know about this possible connection. Doctors treating autoimmune diseases and voice problems should be aware of this link. This is very rare, so most people with autoimmune diseases won’t experience this. People without autoimmune diseases are unlikely to develop bamboo nodules.

Voice therapy typically shows improvement within weeks to months. Steroid injections may provide relief within days to weeks. However, because this is rare and not well-studied, individual results may vary significantly.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you have an autoimmune disease and voice concerns, track voice quality daily using a simple 1-10 scale (1=very hoarse, 10=clear voice). Note any voice therapy sessions completed and any treatments received. Log any triggers that make voice worse (talking too much, acid reflux, stress).
  • Start a voice care routine: practice gentle voice exercises from a speech therapist, stay hydrated, avoid shouting or whispering, and manage acid reflux if present. Use the app to schedule and log voice therapy sessions and track improvements over time.
  • Track voice quality weekly and note any patterns. Monitor how voice changes with different treatments. Keep records to share with your doctors. If voice problems persist despite therapy, schedule follow-up appointments with your ear, nose, and throat doctor or rheumatologist.

This research describes a very rare condition based on only three cases. It is not medical advice. If you have voice problems or suspect you may have bamboo nodules, consult with an ear, nose, and throat specialist or your rheumatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Do not start, stop, or change any medications or treatments without talking to your doctor first. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical evaluation.