title: [Relapsing polychondritis: an analysis of 11 patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze 11 patients with relapsing polychondritis reported by 3 hospitals in our country.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe 11 cases of relapsing polychondritis reported by 3 hospitals in our country, analizing gender, age at the beginning of the disease, delay time in diagnosis, clinical manifestations at the beginning of the disease and during follow-up, initial treatment, and treatment in the "chronic phase" of the disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We described 8 female patients and 4 males, with a mean age of 40.8 years. The delay time in diagnosis was from 4 months to 4 years. The main manifestations were: auricular chondritis in 8 patients (72.7%), hearing loss in 4 (36.3%), and dysphonia in 4 (36.3%). The complications included subglotic stenosis in 4 patients (36.3%), epiescleritis in 2 (18.1%), 1 retinal and corneal dettachment with macular lesion (9%), conductive and sensorial hearing loss in 2 (18.1%), glomerulonephritis in 2 (18.1%), and mitral and tricuspid insufficiency in one patient (9.0%). All of them received prednisone. Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and azathioprine were the most common immunosupressors used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the largest cohort reported in our country, sharing clinical and outcome patterns reported in other series and in the literature. Response to steroids is good, however, we need to consider other therapeutic options because the disease continues progressing and relapsing.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología. Hospital Juárez. México.
authors.forename: Ana Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pérez Gudiño
authors.forename: Gustavo E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lugo Zamudio
authors.forename: Ana S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Vargas Aviles
authors.forename: Fedra
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Irazoque Palazuelos
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andrade Ortega
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Medrano Ramírez
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meléndez Mercado