Relapsing Polychondritis (RP)

How to pronounce it:

Relapsing - ree-lap-sing

Polychondritis - pah-lee-cawn-drEYE-tis


AiArthritis defines relapsing polychondritis as:


Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is a rare and degenerative autoimmune disease that affects cartilage in the body. Not much is known about RP. Relapsing polychondritis (RP) causes a systemic inflammatory response that can be fatal without proper care and treatment. RP primarily affects the cartilaginous structures in the ears, nose, airways, and joints. It can also affect the eyes, skin, heart valves, and brain. It occurs most often in people in their 50s or 60s and is more common in people with white/Caucasian ancestry.



Symptoms

Symptoms of AiArthritis Diseases Regardless of Diagnosis

Common in All AiArthritis Diseases



  • Periods of worsening symptoms are called flares. A flare can last for hours, days, weeks, or months.
  • Condition improves with activity and exercise and worsens with rest.
  • When inflammation is left uncontrolled due to lack of proper treatment, comorbidities can develop. 70% of patients with chronic, lifelong disease will develop comorbidities, including dual or triple diagnoses.
  • Autoimmune diseases run in families. If anyone in your immediate family (parents, siblings) or extended family (aunts, uncles, grandparents) have been diagnosed with ANY autoimmune disease, there is the possibility of genetic predisposition.

 “Auto” Symptoms






  • Severe fatigue or exhaustion that may not be helped by caffeine/stimulants and can happen even after a long period of rest.
  • “Brain fog” - or periods of time where thinking gets clouded and it becomes difficult to concentrate.
  • Flu-like symptoms, without having the flu- nausea, muscle weakness, and general malaise.
  • Fever, typically low grade in autoimmune and higher grade in autoinflammatory (% strongly varies per disease).


Reference: Early Symptoms of AiArthritis Study, AiArthritis, 2019.


View Early Symptoms Study

Inflammatory Arthritis Symptoms


  • Severe stiffness in one or more joints, especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods of time. 
  • Episodes of joint pain that may last for hours, days, or even weeks, that can appear and disappear suddenly. Often described as “jumping pain” into different locations.


Typically the joint pain will coincide with one or more “Auto” symptoms and start and stop suddenly - for no apparent reason (which is called a "flare").  Some people will experience all of the above symptoms, others only a few.  If you have any of the arthritis features, and at least one of the “Auto” features, please consult your physician about a referral to a rheumatologist.


Symptoms Often Associated with Relapsing Polychondritis:

  • Inflammation, redness, swelling, or pain of the outer ear
  • Hearing loss, tinnitus, or ringing in the ears
  • Redness and pain in the eyes
  • Sore throat, neck pain, or a hoarse voice
  • Shortness of breath, wheezing, or a dry cough
  • Pain and redness of the nose
  • Skin lesions
  • Rib or sternum pain
  • Stridor (high-pitched sound during breathing)
  • Leaky heart valves
  • Kidney disease
  • Nerve problems
  • Tissue damage causing deformity and poor functioning


What fellow patients want you to know

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More About Relapsing Polychondritis

Diagnosing Relapsing Polychondritis

There’s no single definitive test that can confirm a relapsing polychondritis diagnosis, so rheumatologists look at a combination of physical exam, blood tests (ESR, WBC, RBC), and imaging, along with a family history of autoimmune or autoinflammatory disease.


Relapsing polychondritis is diagnosed when a doctor observes at least three of the following symptoms developing over time:


  • Inflammation of both outer ears
  • Painful swelling in several joints
  • Inflammation of the cartilage in the nose
  • Inflammation of the eye
  • Cartilage damage in the respiratory tract
  • Hearing or balance problems

Interesting Facts about this Disease

  • In 1923, Rudolf Jaksch von Wartenhost first discovered relapsing polychondritis while working in Prague and initially named it Polychondropathia.
  • Relapsing Polychondritis can often be mistaken for an insect bite or an infection, leading to an incorrect diagnosis and a prescription for antibiotics.
  • Relapsing Polychondritis does not appear to run in families, although some people may have genes that increase their risk of developing the disease.

Other Resources

In an effort to ensure this page has the most accurate and up-to-date information, this page is currently awaiting medical review. Some information is subject to change.


Page Last Updated: 9/1/2023

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