Relapsing polychondritis: commentary

Abstract

Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is a multisystem disease of unknown etiology characterized by episodic inflammation of cartilage and potentially progressive degeneration of cartilaginous tissue, such as auricular, nasal and laryngotracheobronchial cartilage. However, many other proteoglycan- rich structures may be involved, such as inner ear, eyes, blood vessels, heart and kidneys (1- 4). RP was first described by Jacksh-Wartenhorst in 1923, who named it “polychondropathia” (5). Pearson et al. (6) introduced the term “relapsing polychondritis” in 1960...