title: Relapsing polychondritis: A clinical update.
abstract: Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare connective tissue disease in which recurrent bouts of inflammation, involve the cartilage of the ears, nose, larynx, tracheobronchial tree and cardiovascular system. RP is generally observed in the fourth and fifth decades of life and occurs with equal frequency in both sexes. The cause of RP is still unknown. It is considered an immune-mediated disease, as there is an overlap between well documented RP with other rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. There is a significant association of RP with the antigen HLA-DR4. RP includes loss of basophilic staining of cartilage matrix perichondral accompanied by inflammation of the cartilage. Cells are present perivascular mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells infiltrated. The chondrocytes become vacuolated and necrotic and are replaced by fibrous tissue. Common symptoms are often absent in the early stages of the disease in almost half the cases, resulting in delay in diagnosis. The development of chondrite allows the diagnosis of RP in patients initially evaluated for joint abnormalities, ocular, cutaneous, or audio-vestibular. Diagnostic criteria for RP are based on characteristic clinical manifestations. According to Damiani and Levine, the diagnosis can be considered final when one or more of the clinical features are present in conjunction with biopsy confirmation. The course of symptoms for patients with relapsing polychondritis is often unpredictable. Patients with mild signs of acute inflammation are usually treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and small doses of prednisone. Patients with severe manifestations, such as airway compromise may require high doses of prednisone or even intravenous pulse methyl-prednisone.
authors.affiliation: Department Organs of Sense, Phoniatrics Section, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Department Organs of Sense, ENT Section, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Department Organs of Sense, Phoniatrics Section, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.affiliation: Department Organs of Sense, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenza Rita
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Lo Vasco
authors.affiliation: Department Organs of Sense, ENT Section, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Roma, Italy. Electronic address: armando.devirgilio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Virgilio
authors.affiliation: Department Organs of Sense, ENT Section, 'Sapienza' University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00100 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Vincentiis
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone
keywords: Associated autoimmune diseases; Cartilage; Chondritis; Ear chondritis; Relapsing polychondritis