title: Relapsing Polychondritis: A Review and Guide for the Dermatologist.
abstract: Relapsing polychondritis, or RP, is a rare connective tissue disease characterized by relapsing-remitting destructive inflammation of the cartilaginous and other proteoglycan-rich structures in the body. Given the relatively low incidence of RP, a concise clinically relevant guide, focusing on the cutaneous manifestations of this serious disease, is lacking. In this review, we provide the dermatologist with an approach to diagnosing RP and a guide to its initial work-up, and management. We close with an overview of the currently available treatment modalities for RP.
authors.affiliation: University Dermatology Centre, 2-104 Clinical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6J 2G3, Canada.
authors.forename: AnneLiese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smylie
authors.affiliation: University Dermatology Centre, 2-104 Clinical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6J 2G3, Canada. neel@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Neel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.affiliation: University Dermatology Centre, 2-104 Clinical Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6J 2G3, Canada.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brassard
mesh_terms: D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011081:Polychondritis, Relapsing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy