Polychondritis is a rare autoimmune disease that affects the cartilage in the body, causing pain, swelling, and inflammation. Symptoms include ear inflammation, breastbone pain, and nose swelling, and the disease tends to occur in episodes lasting a few weeks. Treatment options include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, and immunosuppressants, but close monitoring is necessary as repeated flare-ups can cause serious complications. More research is needed to understand and prevent the disease.
Polychondritis or relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease that many doctors believe may be autoimmune in nature. In this condition, the cartilage in the body is most affected, although other connective tissues may also be involved. The cartilage begins to deteriorate which can cause pain around the joints and affect the ears and/or nose resulting in swelling and inflammation.
The name relapsing polychondritis is important because the condition tends to occur in episodes lasting a few weeks. After a flare-up the pain may lessen but will return with another flare-up. Ultimately, repeated attacks can damage the cartilage, changing the appearance of the nose and ears and affecting some functions in other areas of the body.
The main symptoms of polychondritis include ear inflammation, breastbone pain, and nose swelling. People often have fever, general pain, and joint pain during episodes. Sometimes the condition causes difficulty breathing, a hoarse voice, or a cough.
In complicated flares, other parts of the body such as the heart or eyes may be involved. Some people especially notice that their hearing is impaired and may report that they have lost their balance or feel dizzy due to hearing impairment. Another symptom can be rashes on various parts of the body, but it should be noted that people can have fewer symptoms and still have this condition, and that each flare-up could have different symptoms.
If people have symptoms of fever, swollen ears, and joint pain, doctors may want to test for polychondritis. The test is normally done by taking a sample of the cartilage to see if it has the characteristic symptoms of damage. Other tests may also be done, including blood tests, which can look for irregularities in the white blood cell count, and cardiovascular tests to see if the heart is affected.
If diagnosed, there are several ways to treat polychondritis. People with mild cases may respond well when taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can be as mild as ibuprofen or stronger NSAIDs may be prescribed. Some people don’t get enough inflammation relief with these medicines, and another common strategy is to treat flare-ups with steroids such as prednisone. Alternatively, there are drugs that are immunosuppressants or that block the immune response. Some people have responded well to treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, strongly suggesting that this disease is autoimmune in nature.
People with this disease will need close monitoring with a doctor and often a rheumatologist. As the damage to the cartilage builds up with repeated flare-ups, there is not only discomfort, but also the danger of serious conditions, such as the collapse of the trachea, which immediately stops breathing. Another complication for some people is the development of serious heart problems that could cause congestive heart failure or require immediate repair.
While polychondritis is rare, it’s not so rare that it doesn’t require more study and understanding, with the goal of finding out how to prevent the disease. Although medical researchers now know a few things about the disease, such as that it most often occurs in middle age, they still don’t know enough. More research is needed to find more effective treatments and perhaps to develop a cure.
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