Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis as an Early Manifestation of Relapsing Polychondritis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Neurological involvement in relapsing polychondritis (RP) is relatively rare. We describe the case of an 80-year-old man who presented with hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) together with arthritis as the first manifestation of RP. Auricular chondritis, which subsequently determined the diagnosis of RP, occurred a few weeks after the detection of HP. The neurological symptoms, as well as arthritis, were promptly improved by treatment with corticosteroids. It is generally difficult to diagnose RP in the absence of typical cartilaginous involvement; however, the present case suggests that HP may occur as an early clinical manifestation of RP.

Keywords

• Relapsing polychondritis
• Hypertrophic pachymeningitis
• Auricular chondritis
• Neurological involvement