Rare Diseases Types An Overview of Relapsing Polychondritis By Lana Barhum Lana Barhum Facebook LinkedIn Lana Barhum has been a freelance medical writer for over 10 years. She shares advice on living well with chronic disease. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 04, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Scott Zashin, MD Medically reviewed by Scott Zashin, MD LinkedIn Scott J. Zashin, MD, specializes in the treatment of rheumatologic and musculoskeletal conditions using both traditional and alternative therapies. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare autoimmune condition that causes recurrent inflammation of cartilage and other tissues throughout the body. Cartilage is the tough and flexible tissue that covers the ends of the bones at the joints and gives shape and support to other body parts. The ear is most often affected by RP, but any part of the body containing cartilage can be affected, including the nose, airways, ribcage, and joints. The signs of relapsing polychondritis vary person-to-person and are related to the parts of the body that are affected. Ninell_Art / Getty Images Researchers believe RP is an autoimmune disease, although they are uncertain of what specifically causes the condition. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and preserve affected cartilage structures. What Are Autoimmune Diseases? Symptoms People with relapsing polychondritis may experience: Joint inflammation (arthritis) Clouding of the lens of the eye (cataract) Cartilage inflammation (chondritis) Inflammation of the external ear (chondritis of pinna) Blood vessel inflammation of the large arteries (vasculitis) Additional symptoms of RP include: A saddle or pug-nose that appears as a dip in the bridge of the nose Red, painful, and swollen eyes Rib pain Throat or neck pain Problems with breathing or speaking Dysphagia (trouble swallowing) Rashes RP is also known for causing problems with a heart valve or the kidney. When RP affects the inner ear, it may cause balance problems, trouble hearing, and vertigo (a condition that makes a person feel dizzy or sick to their stomach). What Is Perichondritis of the Ear? If RP affects the windpipe, it can cause a chronic cough or problems with breathing and swallowing. RP can also cause severe pain in the ribs and breastbone. Additionally, cataracts are an end-stage manifestation of ocular involvement. More often seen is inflammation (e.g, episcleritis, scleritis, uveitis) Prevalence It is estimated there are 3.5 out of every 1,000,000 people diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis yearly worldwide, this according to an August 2018 report in the journal Biomedicine. Most new diagnoses occur in people in their 40s and 50s, but RP can affect anyone, regardless of age. Pediatric cases of RP account for less than 5% of the reported cases, affecting children as early as a month old to age 17. The disease presents similarly in both adults and children. It affects both genders, although women are slightly more affected. It affects all ethnic groups with whites and Asians experiencing differences in symptoms in comparison to other ethnic groups. Causes An exact cause for relapsing polychondritis is unknown, but researchers suspect RP is an autoimmune disease. The condition is believed to be the result of the body’s immune system mistaking healthy cartilage and tissues for diseased ones. In general, risk factors for autoimmune diseases include genetics and a combination of life and environmental factors. Some cases of RP might be triggered by long-term stress or things in the environment. There has been evidence that suggests some people are born with a genetic susceptibility to RP. A genetic trait called HLA-DR4 that makes some people twice as likely to develop the condition. HLA, or human leukocyte antigen, is an important part of the immune system that is responsible for resistance to and risk for certain diseases. HLA genes are not solely responsible for certain diseases, but simply contribute to disease risk in the same way lifestyle and environmental factors do. That means that not everyone with the HLA-DR4 gene will develop relapsing polychondritis. Diagnosis There isn’t a specific test for making a diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask you about symptoms. He or she may request bloodwork to look for signs of inflammation or X-rays to see affected areas. Diagnosis of RP involves meeting three of six specific criteria. These include: Cartilage inflammation of both earsCartilage inflammation of the noseInflammation of the cartilage in the airwayArthritis in at least five joints at the same timeHearing or balance problemsInflammation of the eyes Depending on the symptoms you are experiencing, your healthcare provider may request a biopsy. This involves taking a small amount of tissue to look at under a microscope. You may need to see other specialists to treat the disease, based on the type of symptoms you experience. For example, you may want to see a rheumatologist, who is an expert on arthritis conditions and autoimmune diseases, or a cardiologist if you are experiencing heart-related and breathing problems, or a pain management specialist to help you manage pain symptoms. Treatment There is no cure for relapsing polychondritis, but the condition is treatable. The main goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms and preserve cartilage in the affected area. The main treatment for RP is corticosteroid therapy with prednisone. This drug is known for reducing severity, duration, and frequency of symptoms. Higher doses of prednisone can be given during flare periods where disease activity is higher. Lower doses are given during periods of remission, where disease activity is low. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Advil or Motrin, can help manage pain and relieve inflammation in people with mild cases of the condition. In severe cases, your healthcare provider may recommend stronger drugs that slow down your overactive immune system. Methotrexate, a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), has been shown to be a promising treatment for RP in combination with prednisone as a maintenance treatment. Research further points to methotrexate reducing the need for steroid treatment. Other DMARDs, including Imuran (azathioprine), Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Dapsone (diaminodiphenyl sulfone), Arava (leflunomide), Myfortic (mycophenolate), and Neoral (cyclosporine)—with or without methotrexate— have been helpful to patients who do not get relief with methotrexate alone. What to Know About Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis A Word From Verywell The long-term outlook for relapsing polychondritis varies person-to-person. Generally, the condition is chronic and progressive which means it will get worse with time. In people with severe disease, disability is possible, including visual or hearing impairment, vestibular dysfunction—such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (a harmless chronic, long-term type of vertigo)—or cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) disease. Severe cases of RP are life-threatening. However, there have been improvements in survival rates and disease outcomes in recent years, and many people with RP, and other autoimmune diseases, continue to live long and fulfilling lives. Even people who develop impairments can go on to have better outcomes with newer and stronger treatment options. What Your Ear Pain Means and What You Should Do About It Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD). Relapsing polychondritis. Borgia F, Giuffrida R, Guarneri F, et al. Relapsing polychondritis: An updated review. Biomedicines. 2018 Sep; 6(3): 84. doi:10.3390/biomedicines6030084 Sosada B, Loza K, Bialo-Wojcicka E. Relapsing polychondritis. Case Rep Dermatol Med. 2014; 2014:791951. doi:10.1155/2014/791951 Lepka FK, Chevalier X. Refractory relapsing polychondritis: challenges and solutions. Open Access Rheumatol. 2018;10:1–11. doi:10.2147/OARRR.S142892 Additional Reading Gulati A, Bagga A. Large vessel vasculitis. Pediatr Nephrol. 2010 Jun; 25(6):1037–1048. doi:10.1007/s00467-009-1312-9 Lucerna A, Espinosa J. Acute atraumatic pinna (auricular) perichondritis. World J Emerg Med. 2018;9(2):152–153. doi:10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2018.02.013