Cyclosporin A treatment in a case of relapsing polychondritis

A patient with relapsing polychondritis and high titres of anti-collagen II antibodies developed a progressive destruction of tracheal cartilage in spite of treatment with corticosteroids, Dapsone, Azathioprine and cyclophosphamide. Assumptions regarding the role of anti-collagen immunity, together with immunohistochemical studies on affected cartilage, suggested macrophage-T cell interactions to be important in the pathogenesis of the disease. Cyclosporin A treatment was instituted and has been continued for 2 years, concomitant with a steady improvement and remission of the disease.