A case of relapsing polychondritis associated with optic neuritis

Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare systemic disorder manifested by recurring episodes of inflammation in cartilagenous tissues including the eye, the audiovascular and cardiovascular systems. We describe a 53-year-old oriental woman with a one month history of painful swelling of both ears accompanied by intermittent hoarseness, dyspnea, impaired visual acuity, and swelling of hands. Both ear lobes were typically uninvolved. Auricle including cartilaginous tissues were histologically examined, which revealed loss of basophilic staining, degenerative changes, inflammatory cells infiltrations with eosinophils and neutrophils, and perichondrial inflammation of the cartilage. Oral prednisolone and colchicine were prescribed and the successful resolution of both ears swelling were observed. As the disease progressed optic neuritis and chewing difficulty by non-erosive motion limit of temporo-mandibular joints developed.