A Case of Relapsing Polychondritis with various Chest Shadows and Erythematous Skin Lesions.

Abstract

A 32 year old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of erythema of the skin and respiratory symptoms. Her erythematous lesions appeared much alike that of erythema elevatum diutinum and her chest roentgenogram revealed consolidations together with micronodular shadows. Erythema and chest shadows repeatedly waxed and waned. Ulcerations in the upper air way such as those of tongue, vocal cord and stenosis of trachea were also observed. She died of airway obstruction 13 years after the onset. Autopsy revealed extensive vasculitis of the skin and chondritis along the trachea, concomitantly with subdural hemorrhage.