Relapsing polychondritis with multifocal neurological abnormalities

A sixty-five year old woman developed relapsing polychondritis with three of the diagnostic criteria established by McAdam et al. (1976), namely bilateral auricular chondritis, ocular inflammation and both cochlear and vestibular dysfunction. Many authors have mentioned other neurological symptoms including unilateral facial weakness. This patient is the first case described with bilateral facial weakness and cerebral manifestations. Relapsing polychondritis, an uncommon, recurrent, inflammatory disorder affecting the cartilaginous tissues of the body (Jaksch-Wartenhorst, 1923; Herman, 1981), is regularly associated with audiovestibular dysfunction (Bollet et al., 1969; Cody et al., 1971; McAdam et al., 1976; Ridgway et al., 1979). McAdam et al. (1976) and Ridgway et al. (1979) have mentioned other neurological symptoms including unilateral facial weakness. We recently observed a patient with polychondritis and multifocal neurological abnormalities. We believe this is the first case described with bilateral facial nerve palsy and with cerebral manifestations.