[The diagnosis and treatment of relapsing polychondritis (a case report)].

OBJECTIVE

To enhance the understanding of the diagnosis and treatments of relapsing polychondritis (RP).

METHOD: We present a 37-years-old woman with RP, and review the literatures.

RESULT: Initial presenting symptoms of the patient was auricle perichondritis. The patient was diagnosed as sudden deafness firstly. After 2 months, she consulted otolaryngologists at second time with a variety of involvement of the ear, nose, larynx or heart. She was diagnosed as relapsing polychondritis finally.

CONCLUSION

RP was rare autoimmune system disease, early clinical manifestation were atypical, misdiagnosis and diagnostic errors usually occurred. Corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, dapsone and surgical operation could be used in these patients to control symptoms.