A Floppy truth : relapsing polychondritis--a case report / Avelaine Claire Acuna, Rosario Baes and Ma. Katherina Lat-Herrin.

Includes bibliographical references.

ABSTRACT: Relapsing polychondritis is a chronic multi-system inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology characteristically affecting the cartilaginous and proteoglycan rick structures. It is an episodic and progressive systemic inflammatory disease characterized by auricular chondritis, polyarthritis, nasal and respiratory tract chondritis. The most common presenting feature is of a painful swollen external ear of sudden onset, the lobules are usually spared. This is a case of a 47 year old female who initially presented with a nodule at the left anti helix of the ear that became swollen causing disfigurement of her left pinna excluding the ear lobe. She consulted a number of specialists and was given different antibiotics and anti inflammatory agents but still her left ear swollen and floppy. She had on and off migrating episodes of arthritis of the wrist, elbow and metacarpal joints as well as chest pains. She underwent several blood examinations and other diagnostics which revealed normal results. Consequently after 8 months, there was note of swelling of the contralateral ear. She was referred to a rheumatologic and diagnosis of Relapsing polychondritis was established based on Damiani and Levine's criteria. After initiating prednisone and azathioprine therapy there was improvement on patient's condition and subsequent lessening of erythema and swelling on bilateral auricles.

Research - Department of Medicine