Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis is a systemic autoimmune disease marked by recurring episodes of inflammation and deterioration of cartilage throughout the body, which can become life-threatening if it reaches the respiratory tract, heart valves, or blood vessels, though the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. The ear is affected in about ninety percent of patients at some point, and the disease also commonly involves the nasal cartilage and respiratory tract along with joint pain and eye inflammation. Diagnosis rests on the pattern of symptoms, supported by blood tests and sometimes other investigations, and while its autoimmune nature is established, the specific trigger for any given case is unknown. Severity varies widely, from mild and infrequent flares to debilitating or life-threatening complications, and treatment ranges from painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs for mild disease to immune-suppressing therapy for severe cases. It affects men and women equally, with an annual incidence of about 3.5 cases per million and the highest rate of onset between ages forty and fifty, though it can begin at any age.