[Clinical analysis of 26 patients with relapsing polychondritis].

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the clinical characteristics and early diagnosis and treatment of relapsing polychondritis(RP).

METHOD: Twenty-six RP patients received the therapies of antibiotics, glucocorticosteroid, immunosuppressive agent,tracheotomy, tracheal sent implantation or non-invasive ventilation.

RESULT: Twenty-six cases (88.5%) had auricle involvement, 20 cases (76.9%) had respiratory tract involvement, 18 cases (69.2%) had joints involvement, 10 cases (38.5%) had nose involvement, 6 cases (23.1%) had eyes involvement, 4 cases (15.4%) had cochlea and (or) vestibular involvement. Some patients with cardiac, vascular, kidney damage as well. One case died of severe pulmonary infection. One case died of respiratory failure. The symptoms of other 24 cases were stable or improved in different degrees.

CONCLUSION

The clinical manifestations are diverse in RP patients, mainly in department of Otolaryngology, the prognoses of patients with airway involvement are worse, and it may improve the curative effect by an early diagnosis and a timely treatment.