Relapsing Polychondritis: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT

Relapsing polychondritis is a chronic, recurrent, episodic, inflammatory disease of unknown cause affecting predominantly the cartilaginous tissues of the body. Episodes last few days to weeks. All types of cartilages may be involved. The most common presentation is the involvement of pinnae cartilages. The term was coined by Pearson and was first described by Jacksch-Wartenhorst in 1923, who called it polychondropathies. Annual incidence is about 3.5/million with the peak age at onset ranging from 40 to 50 years. Autoimmune etiology is suspected. Diagnosis is based on McAdam et al., criterion. Corticosteroid remains the mainstay of treatment along with the anti-inflammatory drugs. Here we present a case of 18-year-old male who presented with the involvement of the laryngeal cartilages, which is a rare presentation and later there was an involvement of other cartilages too. Our patient had four of McAdams criteria and also responded to steroids.