Two Cases of Relapsing Polychondritis

Abstract

Two cases of relapsing polychondritis were reported. Both of them were 59 year-old males. Their initial symptoms were related to laryngotracheal involvement (stridor and irritable cough). Bronchoscopic findings were as follows : (1) edematous swelling of tracheobronchial cartilages, (2) marked general stenosis of the bronchial orifices, (3) disappearance of tracheobronchial cartilage. Because the main cause of death in relapsing polychondritis is airway obstruction, repeated bronchoscopic examination is useful to evaluate the severity and prognosis of the disease.