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Articular involvement in patients with relapsing polychondritis
I Günaydin1, T Daikeler, S Jacki
1Department of Rheumatology and Hematology, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany.
Rheumatology International
|December 2, 1998
Summary
Relapsing polychondritis (RP) frequently causes joint symptoms, affecting about 70% of patients. Susceptibility to RP is strongly linked to the HLA-DR4 gene, a key finding for understanding this rare disease.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunogenetics
Background:
- Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare systemic autoimmune disease characterized by episodic inflammation of cartilaginous tissues.
- Joint involvement, particularly arthritis, is a common but not fully understood manifestation of RP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of joint symptoms in patients with relapsing polychondritis.
- To explore the relationship between arthritis and other clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in RP.
- To assess the association between HLA-DR4 and susceptibility to relapsing polychondritis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 14 patients meeting diagnostic criteria for relapsing polychondritis.
- Detailed recording of clinical symptoms, including arthritis and chondritis.
- Comprehensive laboratory analysis, including HLA-DR typing.
Main Results:
- Arthritis developed in 10 out of 14 patients (approximately 70%), presenting as polyarticular or oligoarticular involvement.
- Arthritis onset was independent of chondritis in other sites.
- Six of seven patients tested were positive for HLA-DR4, indicating a significant association.
Conclusions:
- Arthritis is a frequent manifestation of relapsing polychondritis, often asymmetric.
- No clear correlation was found between articular involvement and other clinical or laboratory features.
- The presence of HLA-DR4 is significantly associated with susceptibility to relapsing polychondritis.