Relapsing polychondritis: a rare disease with varying symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
Relapsing polychondritis (RPC) is a rare systemic disease affecting primarily cartilaginous and proteoglycan-rich structures. It is a potentially fatal disease with unknown aetiology. There are no specific tests for RPC. The diagnosis is dependent on clinical criteria, which include chondritis of both auricles, non-erosive inflammatory polyarthritis, nasal chondritis, ocular inflammation, respiratory tract chondritis and cochlear and/or vestibular damage. Ocular symptoms will occur in approximately 60% of RPC patients. As an example, a patient with signs of RPC is described.


RESULTS
A 30-year-old woman was referred to our department for evaluation of a central corneal ulcer in the left eye. She had a history of recurrent pain in both her auricles and was also found to have a nasal septum perforation. Relapsing polychondritis was suspected.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-healing corneal ulcers should alert the ophthalmologist to look for unusual reasons for this condition. RPC is one possible cause.
Department of Ophthalmology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. beatrice.peebo@lio.se
Beatrice Bourghardt
BB
Peebo
Markus
M
Peebo
Christina
C
Frennesson
D000328:Adult; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents