재발성 다발성 연골염 1례

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease of unknown etiology, characterized by episodic inflammation and destruction of cartilagenous structures throughout the body. The most common presenting clinical manifestation is auricular chondritis ； other types of presentation include inflammation of the cartilage of the nasal dorsum and the eyes, and less frequently of the ribs, larynx and tracheal rings.

The majority of cases appear in patients of middle age with an approximately equal sex ratio.

While the cause remains unknown, an autoimmune mechanism is thought to be the causative factor.

Authors have recently experienced a case of relapsing polychondritis involving multiple organ systems, and causing auricular chondritis, hearing dysfunction, episcleritis and conjunctivitis.