A Case of Meningoencephalitis Associated with Relapsing Polychondritis

ABSTRACT

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare multisystem autoimmune disease of unknown origin characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation and progressive destruction of cartilaginous tissues. We present a patient diagnosed with meningoencephalitis associated with RP whose initial symptoms included chronic headache with memory disturbance and disorientation. After treatment of meningoencephalitis, the patient had frequent bilateral auricular swelling, polyarthralgia, and sensory neural hearing loss. Although RP is an extremely rare disease, it should be considered as a possible cause of chronic meningoencephalitis.