title: [Three case reports of relapsing polychondritis and their immunopathological analysis].
abstract: Three cases of relapsing polychondritis are reported. They all complained of dyspnea, which derived from tracheal involvement. Other clinical manifestations were saddle nose (3 cases), painful swelling of ear (2 cases), arthralgia (1 case) ophthalmodynia (1 case). The pathological examination of biopsied cartilage of the pinnae showed loss of basophils with cellular infiltration, fibrosis and breakdown of the matrix. We also performed PAP (Peroxidase-Anti-Peroxidase) staining of biopsied cartilage, which showed the deposition of IgG, C3, C4 and fibrinogen. The results suggested that the pathogenesis of RP might be related to the autoimmune mechanism.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyagi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akamine
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuniyoshi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kakazu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaneshima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Irabu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimoji
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kitsukawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shigeno
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases; D002356:Cartilage / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010007:Osteochondritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D005340:Fibrinogen