Related Experiment Videos
Pediatric-onset relapsing polychondritis: case series and systematic review
Alexandre Belot1, Agnès Duquesne, Chantal Job-Deslandre
1Service de néphrologie et rhumatologie pédiatrique, Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon et Université de Lyon, Lyon, France. alexbelot@yahoo.fr
Objectives:
To study the pediatric presentation and evolution of relapsing polychondritis (RP), a rare inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent inflammation of cartilage.
Study Design:
We retrospectively collected data from 10 patients observed in 3 French hospitals for relapsing polychondritis, with an age at onset <18 years. We also analyzed 37 cases of pediatric-onset RP from a systematic review.
Results:
The mean age at first symptoms was 8.6 years, and the sex ratio was 6 male patients and 4 female patients. Children came to medical attention with joint pain, ocular inflammation, and chondritis. Outcomes included severe visual impairment, chronic destructive chondritis, and 1 death caused by aortic dilatation. Treatment mainly consisted of non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants. Growth was normal in 7 examined patients. Systematic literature review also suggested a high number of tracheostomy in pediatric cases, but this was not confirmed in our series.
Conclusion:
RP in childhood shares the main clinical features of its adult counterpart, including destructive chondritis and systemic symptoms, but unlike adults, children frequently have a family history of autoimmunity and infrequently have other associated autoimmune diseases. RP can be fatal; close screening for complications is mandatory. Growth does not appear to be impaired by cartilage inflammation.
Related Concept Videos
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Pericarditis I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction