Relapsing polychondritis treated with dapsone.

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare and sometimes fatal disease of unknown cause and pathogenesis. Results of recent studies suggest that it is an immune disorder probably caused by the production of autoantibodies to possibly the mucopolysaccharides. Perpetuation of the cartilage inflammation may be maintained by a proteolytic process. Treatment primarily has been with orally given corticosteroids. Dapsone has been shown to possibly inhibit lysosomal enzyme activity. We present a patient who, to our knowledge, is the first with relapsing polychondritis to be treated successfully with dapsone. The rapid response of the patient's condition to treatment with dapsone suggests an alternative, if not preferred, method of controlling this disease.