How is Relapsing Polychondritis diagnosed?

They can sometimes do a biopsy but most are diagnosed by there red hot ears.

4/26/17 by Freya 1000

There is no specific test for rp. Diagnosis is based on a collection of data such as symptoms and scans of trachea etc Diagnosis is difficult as the various symptoms may be similar to and mistaken for other, more common diseases. There are no blood tests which can confirm RP and diagnosis is usually made on clinical symptoms alone. Due to the rarity of the condition, clinicians are often unfamiliar with the symptoms and patients occasionally wait years before getting a diagnosis. ​ Doctors will diagnose Relapsing Polychondritis on observing at least three of the following: ​ inflammation of cartilage in the ears (excluding the soft lower earlobe) pain and swelling in several joints inflammation of the nose cartilage eye inflammation inflammation of the cartilage in the windpipe hearing loss/tinnitus/vertigo

4/27/17 by Lisa Matthews (Lissy) 4800

It is really very difficult to diagnose. Most of the time it has to come to deformity / redness of ears and nose so that the doctors can understand what is really happening.

4/27/17 by Laoura 2050

My diagnosis was clinically based. Very obvious Ear involvement. Classic symptoms, but only picked up by a very astute ENT specialist. Biopsy is very unreliable. Once I was diagnosed there was no need to question the diagnosis. It was very obvious that I had Relapsing Polychondritis. I had already been diagnosed with Autoimmune Haemolytic anaemia and dysautonomia.

8/9/17 by Louise C 1450

Most patients are diagnosed by having at least 3 major symptoms of RP. Some have biopsies but I do not believe it is necessary.

8/14/17 by Susan 2000

I was not diagnosed for 10-15 years. It was an Internal Medicine doctor who finally diagnosed me. He is known to be a great diagnostician. I explained my history to him. I was in a flare at the time. When he saw my red ears, he told me immediately what he suspected. I had never heard of RP before. I had searched many diseases on the computer to try to find my symptoms. RP never came up. My Internal med doctor sent me to a Rheumy who ran many blood tests to check for inflammation and other underlying diseases of RP.

9/1/17 by Diane 2050

Symptoms. Biopsy recommended but not always conclusive

6/11/19 by Brooketaylornp@gmail.com 1000

ENT doctor ears and nose need looked at

6/12/19 by Tmrcarlson 3550

Relapsing polychondritis is diagnosed by using mcadams criteria. It is a clinical diagnosis. Some specialists now insist on a biopsy however these are usually inconclusive and only 40% reliable.

6/12/19 by Kaz 3000

There's no blood test for rp. Symptoms, mcadams criteria and signs of inflammation with or without inflammation markers, particularly seen in the ears.

12/30/19 by Leanne 2500

It is a clinical diagnosis, testing is often used to exclude other conditions

12/30/19 by Carrie 3050

In the 1980's little was known about the disease. My eye swelled and turned beet red with excruciating pain. I went to an ophthalmologist who said only two things could cause the condition - glaucoma which she said I did not have or relapsing polychondritis. I then went to a rhumatologist who diagnosed it through enzymes in the blood.

3/20/22 by shlawver 2500

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I don't think that doctors are prepared to give this diagnosis, in my case, I find looking in Google scholar.

10/1/17 by Ana Luiza Bottura. Translated

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Biopsy cartilage

10/2/17 by Kevin Ochoa. Translated

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Clinical, analysis, and other tests according to symptoms.

10/2/17 by cmomo. Translated

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Because it is a disease little known, and the symptoms confused with those of other diseases, it is difficult to be diagnosed first. In my case, I spent a year going to hospitals and by many doctors and nothing they find out. I took many antibiotics for nothing. So I went searching on Google and I had an idea of what it could be. I brought this idea to my family doctor, and so was I request examinations and analyses, which have found to be really of this disease

10/2/17 by Glaucia. Translated

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For being a rare disease doctors know little about it, in my case I was three years old showing the symptoms, I went to many doctors, I made several tests and everything that they to me told that it was a alérgia emotional, bizarre, me receitavam antiallergic and corticodes, that amenizavam the symptom, I only found out after my stomach being completely destroyed that I had was not alérgia and yes an autoimmune disease, and oh yeah I started a research best. I started my treatment at the end of 2015.

10/2/17 by Carolina. Translated

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You should go to a rheumatologist, an ent... There are not yet tests q to diagnose the disease are based more on the symptoms, although a biopsy of the ear can diagnose it

10/2/17 by Sandra. Translated