Walsh & Hoyt: Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis is an episodic disorder characterized by widespread, recurrent, potentially destructive inflammation of cartilage, the cardiovascular system, and the organs of special sense. The disease occurs predominantly in Caucasians but is reported in all races. There is an equal sex prevalence, and there is no apparent family predisposition. The time of onset varies from birth to the 9th decade, with most cases becoming symptomatic in patients from 4060 years of age. The most common clinical features of relapsing polychondritis are auricular inflammation, arthropathy, and inflammation of nasal cartilage. Laryngotracheal bronchial disease occurs in about half of the patients and may cause death from laryngeal collapse.