Relapsing polychondritis can affect cartilage in many sites, including the tracheobronchial tree. Progressive destruction of cartilage can result in symptoms that may be confused with asthma.
Clinical features:
(1) The patient may present with cough, dyspnea, hoarseness and/or stridor.
(2) Other manifestations of relapsing polychondritis may be present (swelling of the auricles, saddle nose, etc).
(3) There may be a transient improvement following corticosteroid therapy.
(4) The patient fails to improve on standard asthma therapy.
Biopsy of the ear (or other affected area) may be diagnostic.
A delay in appropriate treatment can result in tracheobronchomalacia with collapsing airways and subglottic stenosis.
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