Liječnički vjesnik, Vol. 133 No. 1-2, 2011.
Review article
RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS – CASE REPORT
Irzal Hadžibegović
Joško Mitrović
Marija Santini
Dalibor Vukelić
Jadranka Morović-Vergles
Abstract
Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare systemic inflammatory disease in which recurrent episodes of cartilage inflammation result in destruction of ears, nose and tracheobronchal tract. The joints, eyes, audiovestibular system and cardiovascular system can also be involved. About 30% of patients with RP have coexisting autoimmune disease, or malignant disease like colon, breast, and lung carcinoma, or malignant lymphoma. Pathogenesis is still unknown, and there is no consistent laboratory parameter specific for RP, which makes the diagnosis mainly clinical. Glucocorticoids are a mainstay of medical treatment of RP, whereas newer studies show positive effects of biological therapy. The course of RP is characterized by recurrent episodes of cartilage inflammation, and the prognosis has been recently improved because of improved medical and surgical treatment. We present a case of a patient with RP who was diagnosed 1 month after the development of first symptoms and responded well to glucocorticoid therapy.
Keywords
Polychondritis, relapsing – diagnosis, complications, drug therapy; Prednisone – therapeutic use, administration and dosage; Anti-inflammatory agents – therapeutic use; Antibodies, monoclonal – therapeutic use
Hrčak ID:
171642
URI
Publication date:
28.2.2011.
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