Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease of the connective tissue. The lesions can be found in any place in the body where type II collagen is present, especially in cartilages and blood vessel walls. Depending upon the localization of the inflammatory changes, their intensity and their duration, the disease can assume various clinical courses. The absence of specific laboratoryvery long, and patients are often referred to a rheumatologist after several weeks or months of treatment by other specialists. As an example of such considerable diagnostic difficulties this paper presents a case of a 53 year old woman. in whom E.N.T. symptoms (acute inflammation of the pinnas, dizziness and hoarseness) were first manifested.

Keywords: relapsing polychondritis, E.N.T. symptoms