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Relapsing polychondritis: a rare disease with varying symptoms
Beatrice Bourghardt Peebo1, Markus Peebo, Christina Frennesson
1Department of Ophthalmology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. beatrice.peebo@lio.se
Purpose:
Relapsing polychondritis (RPC) is a rare systemic disease affecting primarily cartilaginous and proteoglycan-rich structures. It is a potentially fatal disease with unknown aetiology. There are no specific tests for RPC. The diagnosis is dependent on clinical criteria, which include chondritis of both auricles, non-erosive inflammatory polyarthritis, nasal chondritis, ocular inflammation, respiratory tract chondritis and cochlear and/or vestibular damage. Ocular symptoms will occur in approximately 60% of RPC patients. As an example, a patient with signs of RPC is described.
Methods/Result:
A 30-year-old woman was referred to our department for evaluation of a central corneal ulcer in the left eye. She had a history of recurrent pain in both her auricles and was also found to have a nasal septum perforation. Relapsing polychondritis was suspected.
Conclusion:
Non-healing corneal ulcers should alert the ophthalmologist to look for unusual reasons for this condition. RPC is one possible cause.