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What is Relapsing Polychondritis
Relapsing Polychondritis description. Find out what Relapsing Polychondritis is and know more about it.
Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is a rare, progressive condition characterised by recurrent episodes of inflammation of cartilaginous structures. These include the ears, nose, upper respiratory tract, chest wall and joints. Other organs and tissues may also become involved such as the eye, inner ear, heart, blood vessels and kidneys.
The exact cause of Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is not known. However, it is believed to be an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system starts attacking its own healthy cells believing them to be foreign.
RP has an episodic pattern with periods of intense inflammation and periods of remission and dependant on the severity of the inflammatory process, often requiring the use of immune suppressant medications.
RP can be life threatening, debilitating and difficult to diagnose and prognosis is variable, depending on organ involvement and treatment complications. Where the disease is mild or responds quickly to treatment, there is a good prognosis.
Relapsing Polychondritis is also known by other names such as Meyenburg Altherr Uehlinger syndrome, chronic atrophic polychondritis and Von Meyenburg syndrome.
The exact cause of Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is not known. However, it is believed to be an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system starts attacking its own healthy cells believing them to be foreign.
RP has an episodic pattern with periods of intense inflammation and periods of remission and dependant on the severity of the inflammatory process, often requiring the use of immune suppressant medications.
RP can be life threatening, debilitating and difficult to diagnose and prognosis is variable, depending on organ involvement and treatment complications. Where the disease is mild or responds quickly to treatment, there is a good prognosis.
Relapsing Polychondritis is also known by other names such as Meyenburg Altherr Uehlinger syndrome, chronic atrophic polychondritis and Von Meyenburg syndrome.
Posted Mar 20, 2018 by Lisa Matthews (Lissy) 4800
A disease that destroys the cartilage in your body
Posted Jun 12, 2019 by Tmrcarlson 3550
Relapsing polychondritis is a multi-systemic condition characterized by repeated episodes of inflammation and deterioration of cartilage. The often painful disease can cause joint deformity and be life-threatening if the respiratory tract, heart valves, or blood vessels are affected.
Posted Jun 13, 2019 by Kaz 3000
Relapsing polychondritis is an extremely rare autoimmune disease that attacks cartilage
Posted Dec 30, 2019 by Leanne 2500
Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease that presents with inflammation of cartilage in several parts of the body, usually affecting the ears, nose, throat and lungs. It occurs most often in people in their 50s or 60s and is more common in people with white/Caucasian ancestry.
Posted Dec 30, 2019 by Carrie 3050
The immune system is triggered erratically to respond to normal tissue as if it were the enemy. Mast cells bully the normal cells and tissue.
Posted Mar 20, 2022 by shlawver 2500
