Relapsing polychondritis.

Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare, inflammatory disease with multisystem involvement and it should be considered in the aetiology of sudden respiratory distress. A 49-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency service of Osmangazi Hospital in acute respiratory distress. She had a tracheostomy following a diagnosis of laryngeal stenosis 10 years earlier. She was managed thereafter at another hospital with a diagnosis of asthma. At admission she was in respiratory distress, had arthralgias, bilateral subconjunctival hyperaemia, periorbital oedema and skin lesions. A thoracic CT showed tracheal wall thickening. Calcification of the auricular regions were noted bilaterally. Bronchi, conjunctiva and skin lesions were biopsied with a provisional diagnosis of RP. The diagnosis of RP in this patient was based on clinical, pathological and radiological findings. Steroid therapy was begun and she was referred to a surgical centre for stenting. This case report emphasizes the need to consider the possibility of RP as a cause of sudden respiratory distress.

• Authors: Füsun Alataş, Ragip Ozkan, Muzaffer Metintaş, Hale Moral, Sinan Erginel, Irfan Uçgun
• Journal: Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) (Respirology) Vol. 8 Issue 1 Pg. 99-103 (Mar 2003) ISSN: 1323-7799 [Print] Australia
• PMID: 12856750 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Steroids

Topics

• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Laryngostenosis (diagnosis, surgery)
• Middle Aged
• Polychondritis, Relapsing (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome (diagnosis, etiology)
• Risk Assessment
• Severity of Illness Index
• Steroids (administration & dosage)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Tracheostomy