title: Relapsing polychondritis presenting as meningoencephalitis with valvular abnormality: a case report.
abstract: Relapsing polychondritis is a rare rheumatologic disorder that is characterized by recurrent inflammation of selected connective tissue sites and destruction of cartilage throughout the body. We report a case of newly diagnosed relapsing polychondritis in a 40-year-old man presenting with episcleritis, deformed "cauliflower" ears, aortic regurgitation, and aseptic meningoencephalitis. Steroid therapy was instituted with good resolution of his clinical symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, 4950 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. KTKao@scal.kp.org
authors.forename: Kevin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Potrebic
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids