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Relapsing Polychondritis

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Book cover Primer on the Rheumatic Diseases

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Abstract

  • Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare disease that occurs worldwide in all age groups and affects men and women equally.

  • An associated rheumatologic or hematologic disorder is seen in over 30% of patients with RP. Inflammation of cartilaginous structures with lymphocytic infiltration and association with anticollagen antibodies are consistent with an autoimmune pathogenesis.

  • The characteristic clinical findings are acute painful swelling and redness of the external ear, nasal cartilage, and laryngotracheal cartilage. Nonerosive arthritis, ocular inflammation, vestibular symptoms, and involvement of the heart and kidney also occur.

  • Diagnosis is made on clinical grounds, though cartilage biopsy may be useful.

  • Treatment with nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids may control inflammation, but immunosuppressive and biologic treatments may be required for severe disease.

  • ■ Laryngotracheal involvement is a serious complication that may require tracheostomy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA

    Harvinder S. Luthra MD (John Finn Professor of Medicine)

Authors
  1. Harvinder S. Luthra MD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Arthritis Foundation, Atlanta, GA, USA

    John H. Klippel MD (President and CEO) & Patience H. White MD, MA (Chief Public Health Officer) (President and CEO) &  (Chief Public Health Officer)

  2. Massachusetts General Hospital, Deputy Editor for Rheumatology UpToDate, Boston, MA, USA

    John H. Stone MD, MPH (Associate Physician) (Associate Physician)

  3. Division of Rheumatology & Women’s Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

    Leslie J. Crofford MD (Gloria W. Singletary Professor of Internal Medicine, Chief) (Gloria W. Singletary Professor of Internal Medicine, Chief)

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Luthra, H.S. (2008). Relapsing Polychondritis. In: Klippel, J.H., Stone, J.H., Crofford, L.J., White, P.H. (eds) Primer on the Rheumatic Diseases. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68566-3_57

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68566-3_57

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-35664-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-68566-3

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