Relapsing polychondritis is a systemic disorder with recurrent episodes of inflammation involving cartilage. McAdam et al reported criteria for its diagnosis.
The etiology of relapsing polychondirits is unknown but an immune mechanism is suspected by some. Any kind of cartilage may be involved, including the eyes, nose, ears, joints, airways, blood vessels and heart. Death may occur with severe involvement, especially of the respiratory tract.
Criteria fir relapsing polychondirits - 3 or more of the following (with or without histologic confirmation):
(1) recurrent chondritis of both auricles (swelling, pain and erythema of the helix, antihelix, tragus and/or external auditory canal, with sparing of the inferior lobule)
(2) nonerosive inflammatory arthritis
(3) chondritis of the nasal cartilage
(4) ocular inflammation
(5) chondritis of the larynx, trachea, or both
(6) damage to the cochlea, vestibule or both, with hearing loss and tinnitus, or vertigo, or both
