We were presented with two cases of
relapsing polychondritis (RP) associated with different types of ocular
inflammation. The first case was a 35-year-old man who had bilateral hyperemic conjunctiva and ocular
pain, and was referred to Chiba University Hospital with a diagnosis of
episcleritis refractory. He was treated with
dexamethasone eye drops. He developed
tinnitus,
deafness in both ears, and left auriculitis. A left auricular biopsy showed an infiltration of lymphocytes surrounding the cartilage. He was diagnosed with RP and treated with 30 mg/day oral
prednisolone. After tapering the
prednisolone, the
scleritis in both eyes improved. The second case was a 71-year-old man who was deaf in both ears and had bilateral
scleritis. At the first visit to our hospital, his left eyelid and right auricula were reddish and swollen, and he reported some
pain. He was treated with intravenous
antibiotics, and the left
orbital cellulitis quickly improved. However, he developed right
scleritis and left gonitis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral posterior
scleritis and right auricular perichondritis. Auricular biopsy showed an infiltration of lymphocytes into the periauricular tissue. He was diagnosed with RP, and 40 mg/day oral
prednisolone was given and his symptoms improved. Although RP is rare, it is a life-threatening disease. Thus, ophthalmologists should consider RP in patients with both ocular and auricular
inflammation.