J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.
2002 Mar;43(3):626-630.
A Case of Episcleritis with Relapsing Polychondritis
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, Korea.yimhb@olmh.cuk.ac.kr
Abstract
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PURPOSE: Relapsing polychondritis is a progressive inflammatory disorder of unknown cause affecting predominantly the cartilage of the ears, nose, and tracheobronchial tree as well as internal structures of the eyes and nose. Episcleritis is the most common ocular manifestation. We experienced a case of relapsing polychondritis with episcleritis and it's treatment. Therefore, we report this case with literature review.
METHODS
Seventy-year-old woman presented with ocular pain and redness in right eye which had developed one week before. She had bilateral auricular chondritis, vertigo, saddle nose deformity, polyarthritis and respiratory difficulty. Relapsing polychondritis was diagnosed by typical clinical features.
RESULTS
The patient was started on systemic steroid therapy and 0.1% dexamethasone in the right eye four times daily as well as oral ibuprofen 600 mg four times daily, which were slowly tapered off over the next four weeks with the resolution of the episcleritis.
