Read more about this disease, some with Classification – Types – Signs and symptoms – Genetics – Pathophysiology – Diagnosis – Screening – Prevention – Treatment and management – Cures and much more, some including pictures and video when available.
Relapsing polychondritis is a condition where cartilage deteriorates.
It is also known as Chronic atrophic polychondritis, Meyenburg-Altherr-Uehlinger syndrome, von Meyenburg’s disease, Generalized chondromalacia, or Systemic chondromalacia.
All cartilage areas can be affected, though in many cases the disease will affect several areas where cartilage is found in the body, and leave others entirely alone. Parts of the body with cartilage, and therefore potentially affected by polychondritis, include the ears, nose, throat, heart valves and of course all areas where musculo-skeletal tissues are connected by cartilage. Specific resultant conditions may include Type 3 Tracheomalacia and Vasculitis. An photograph of polychondritis is shown here [1]
Reasons for disease onset are not known.
It is considered to possibly be an auto-immune disease[2] in which the human’s body’s immune system begins to attack and destroy the cartilage tissues in the body.
Treatment plans typically involve suppression of the immune system with medicines, which often result in a side effect of increasing the risk of other infections.
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