21

What is Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing Polychondritis description. Find out what Relapsing Polychondritis is and know more about it.

What is Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing Polychondritis is a rare autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the cartilage in the body. It is characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation in various cartilaginous structures, such as the ears, nose, joints, and respiratory tract.


The exact cause of Relapsing Polychondritis is unknown, but it is believed to involve an abnormal immune response where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cartilage. This can lead to symptoms such as pain, swelling, redness, and deformity in the affected areas.


Diagnosis of Relapsing Polychondritis can be challenging as its symptoms can mimic other conditions. Medical history, physical examination, and imaging tests are typically used to evaluate the extent of cartilage inflammation. Treatment aims to control inflammation and manage symptoms, often involving the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive medications.


Relapsing Polychondritis is a chronic condition that tends to have unpredictable flare-ups and remissions. It can affect individuals of any age, but it is more commonly diagnosed in middle-aged adults. Early detection and appropriate management are crucial in minimizing cartilage damage and improving quality of life for those living with this condition.


Diseasemaps
7 answers
Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is a rare, progressive condition characterised by recurrent episodes of inflammation of cartilaginous structures. These include the ears, nose, upper respiratory tract, chest wall and joints. Other organs and tissues may also become involved such as the eye, inner ear, heart, blood vessels and kidneys.

The exact cause of Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is not known. However, it is believed to be an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system starts attacking its own healthy cells believing them to be foreign.

RP has an episodic pattern with periods of intense inflammation and periods of remission and dependant on the severity of the inflammatory process, often requiring the use of immune suppressant medications.

RP can be life threatening, debilitating and difficult to diagnose and prognosis is variable, depending on organ involvement and treatment complications. Where the disease is mild or responds quickly to treatment, there is a good prognosis.

Relapsing Polychondritis is also known by other names such as Meyenburg Altherr Uehlinger syndrome, chronic atrophic polychondritis and Von Meyenburg syndrome.

Posted Mar 20, 2018 by Lisa Matthews (Lissy) 4800
A disease that destroys the cartilage in your body

Posted Jun 12, 2019 by Tmrcarlson 3550
Relapsing polychondritis is a multi-systemic condition characterized by repeated episodes of inflammation and deterioration of cartilage. The often painful disease can cause joint deformity and be life-threatening if the respiratory tract, heart valves, or blood vessels are affected.

Posted Jun 13, 2019 by Kaz 3000
Relapsing polychondritis is an extremely rare autoimmune disease that attacks cartilage

Posted Dec 30, 2019 by Leanne 2500
Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease that presents with inflammation of cartilage in several parts of the body, usually affecting the ears, nose, throat and lungs. It occurs most often in people in their 50s or 60s and is more common in people with white/Caucasian ancestry.

Posted Dec 30, 2019 by Carrie 3050
The immune system is triggered erratically to respond to normal tissue as if it were the enemy. Mast cells bully the normal cells and tissue.

Posted Mar 20, 2022 by shlawver 2500

What is Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing Polychondritis life expectancy

What is the life expectancy of someone with Relapsing Polychondritis?

18 answers
Celebrities with Relapsing Polychondritis

Celebrities with Relapsing Polychondritis

7 answers
Is Relapsing Polychondritis hereditary?

Is Relapsing Polychondritis hereditary?

15 answers
Is Relapsing Polychondritis contagious?

Is Relapsing Polychondritis contagious?

12 answers
Natural treatment of Relapsing Polychondritis

Is there any natural treatment for Relapsing Polychondritis?

12 answers
ICD9 and ICD10 codes of Relapsing Polychondritis

ICD10 code of Relapsing Polychondritis and ICD9 code

13 answers
Living with Relapsing Polychondritis

Living with Relapsing Polychondritis. How to live with Relapsing Polychondr...

17 answers
Relapsing Polychondritis diet

Relapsing Polychondritis diet. Is there a diet which improves the quality o...

18 answers

World map of Relapsing Polychondritis

Find people with Relapsing Polychondritis through the map. Connect with them and share experiences. Join the Relapsing Polychondritis community.

Stories of Relapsing Polychondritis

RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS STORIES
Relapsing Polychondritis stories
The first time I noticed symptoms, I thought I was having an allergic reaction to something at work. My ears became so red and inflamed and hurt so bad. I let it go on for almost 3 days before finally going to a hospital where I was diagnosed with re...
Relapsing Polychondritis stories
It began with dry nose, nose bleeding and what my GP thought was a sinus infection. Antibiotics and prednisone perscribed, helped for a while, then reoccurred. Ear then swelled over twice the size - red, shiny and moist, GP again said outer ear infec...
Relapsing Polychondritis stories
i had progressively worsening breathing issues for many years before my diagnosis of rp.  I went through many specialists and tests and no one could identify why I was having breathing issues.  I had no outward signs of rp until one day my ears swe...
Relapsing Polychondritis stories
I have had strange symptoms before this came to light, but during my last trimester of my pregnancy with my youngest son, I had a severe respiratory infection that never seemed to get better. I have had exercise induced asthma since I was young and t...
Relapsing Polychondritis stories
I was officially diagnosed with RP 2 yrs ago. No one else in my family has it. It started approximately 5 years ago with ear flares, jumping from one to the other. My PCP happened to go to a conference where RP was discussed, and soon contacted me to...

Tell your story and help others

Tell my story

Relapsing Polychondritis forum

RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS FORUM
Relapsing Polychondritis forum
I don't think RP is as rare as we are led to believe. It seems many symptoms are unrelated. You go to an ortho doc for knee/joint pain. You go to an ENT for ears and throat. You go to an ophthalmologist for eyes. You go to a dermatologist for skin. T...

Ask a question and get answers from other users.

Ask a question

Find your symptoms soulmates

From now on you can add your symptoms in diseasemaps and find your symptoms soulmates. Symptoms soulmates are people with similar symptoms to you.

Symptoms soulmates

Add your symptoms and discover your soulmates map

Soulmates map