Relapsing Polychondritis

[beeinformed]

Hi!

I recently went to my ent specialist and based on certain symptoms (inflammation of the ear cartilage) I was experiencing at the time of my office visit, my doctor feels I might possibly have Relapsing Polychondritis.

I have done some cursory research (on the internet) on this condition and would appreciate any information you have as the research I have found on this disorder is eight to ten years old.

I would like more up-to-date info and would appreciate any current knowledge of this condition. Thanks!

[pberggren1]

This sounds familiar but I don't know anything about it.

[Sangye]

When I was dx'ed in 2006 I met a woman with RP. She worked in the hospital where I was admitted many times. The treatment seems to be similar to Wegs. At the time it had a much worse prognosis than Wegs, but I don't know the current status. I hope that some of the newer meds and treatment protocols for Wegs have improved the prognosis.

I wouldn't wait to get to a highly skilled specialist.

[Al]

Yuk. Relapsing polychondritis (an inflammation of any cartilage area)is most likely an autoimmune disease, so the only known remediation is to tamp down the immune system, just like with WG. Beyond that, I can't say. Yes, by all means hie yourself to a specialist (most commonly a rheumy with autoimmune expertise).

Al

[Chris G]

Many of the symptoms of RP are very similar to wg. It damages cartilage in the body - ears (internal and external), the trachea, sternum/ribs, nose/sinuses, joints, and the eyes. When I first became sick and started doing research, I believed that what I had was either rp or wg. When I finally got an appt with the specialists, they too said that it was a toss up between the two diseases, but they were leaning toward wg because I had never had the external ear inflammation. I believe external ear inflammation is the biggest commonality among people with rp.

There is a blood test you could have which could help determine whether you have rp. It's a collegan II antibody test. Collagen type II is abundant in the cartilage in our bodies, and in our eyes. If you have those antibodies, it could lean the docs in that direction. Like most of the labs we do, it's not completely difinitive, but it's a good place to start if they suspect rp.

Most importantly......find a specialist.