title: Auricular chondritis associated with systemic joint and cartilage inflammation in a cat.
abstract: An adult, Japanese domestic cat presented with bilateral swelling, distortion, and erythema of ears and deformation of the limbs. Biopsy of the pinnae confirmed auricular chondritis. These lesions and the cat's general condition subsequently deteriorated, and the cat died. At necropsy, chondral changes were present in the pinnae, costae, larynx, trachea, and limbs. Histopathologically, these chondral tissues showed marked deformation with lymphocytic inflammation. The limb joint inflammation was associated with chondral erosion, deformation of subchondral bones with pannus, and thinning of cancellous bones. These lesions were consistent with the diagnostic criteria for human relapsing polychondritis. However, the cat had erosive arthritis, which appeared to be different from human relapsing polychondritis.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Biosciences, Azabu University, Fuchinobe 1-17-71, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoshige
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Tamio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohmuro
authors.forename: Naohiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Kinji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats; D004425:Ear Cartilage / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D007564:Japan; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*