Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2005 Oct;48(10):1290-1293.

A Case of Relapsing Polychondritis with Inner Ear Symptom Improved by Plasmaphresis

• Yeo SW
• Kim HR
• Yoon CH
• Park SN

Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease which often presents itself firstly in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) department. Characteristic features include auricular chondritis, arthritis, nasal chondritis, ocular inflammation, respiratory tract involvement and audiovestibular damage. The mainstay of treatment has been corticosteroid but other agents have been used either alone or in conjunction with it. These other agents include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, dapsone and colchicine which are helpful for mild disease and cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, cyclosporin. Authors have recently experienced a case of relapsing polychondritis in a 32 year old man who had suddenly experienced loss of hearing in his left ear with vertigo. The patient showed no significant improvement with the treatment using steroid and immunosuppressive agents, but showed significant hearing improvement when he was aggressively treated with plasmapheresis. We report this case with a review of the literature.

Keyword

Relapsing polychondritis; Plasmapheresis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Arthritis
Azathioprine
Colchicine
Cyclophosphamide
Cyclosporine
Dapsone
Ear
Ear, Inner*
Hearing
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents
Inflammation
Nose
Pharynx
Plasmapheresis
Polychondritis, Relapsing*
Rare Diseases
Respiratory System
Vertigo
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Azathioprine
Colchicine
Cyclophosphamide
Cyclosporine
Dapsone
Immunosuppressive Agents