title: Treatment of relapsing polychondritis with the TNF-alpha antagonist adalimumab.
abstract: Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare immune-mediated disease which is associated with inflammation in cartilaginous tissue throughout the body. Especially, the cartilaginous structures of ear, respiratory tract, nose, and joints are affected. Around 30% of the cases are associated with other diseases especially systemic vasculitis. Onset of RP is most likely between the ages of 40-60 years. This case reports the often disguised and similar symptoms of RP to Wegner's granulomatosis and the challenge of diagnosis. The relative rarity of RP has not permitted clinical trials to determine the efficacy and safety of different therapies. Current treatment is largely empiric and based on case reports. In this case, we successfully used a treatment with the TNF-alpha antagonist adalimumab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany. Tobias.Lahmer@lrz.tu-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lahmer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knopf
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Treiber
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Heemann
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thuermel
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D002356:Cartilage / Q000473:pathology; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014657:Vasculitis
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068879:Adalimumab