[Recurrent polychondritis]

Clinical and histological findings are presented as occurring in a male aged 24 years suffering from relapsing polychondritis (r. p.) of 7 years duration. The presenting symptoms were fever, ataxia, vertigo and vomiting. During the later relapses there also occurred episcleritis, paresis of the glottic muscle and hypertrophic bronchitis. At the age of 22 the patient had had a tracheostomy because of acute respiratory insufficiency. The patient has a typical saddle nose and drooping auricles. Tissues obtained from the auricles showed destructive alterations of the cartilage with fragmentation and homobenization of the elestic fibres. The perichondrium showed fibrosis and a massive round-celled inflammatory infiltration.