Relapsing Polychondritis: A Case Report

Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is an uncommon autoimmune disease characterized by repeated and progressive inflammation in cartilage tissue. The auricular cartilage is the location of the most common clinical findings and the most common site of initial involvement. Nasal chondritis is a manifestation present in 15% of patients. Progressive destruction of nasal cartilage leads to the characteristic flattening of the nasal bridge, resulting in saddle nose deformity. The case is, here, presented of a 38-year-old patient who developed nasal chondritis which resulted in saddle nose deformity, and was diagnosed with RP following rhinoplasty.

Keywords

• nasal chondritis
• relapsing polychondritis
• rhinoplasty
• saddle nose deformity.