- Relapsing polychondritis
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Relapsing polychondritis Classification and external resources ICD-10 M94.1 ICD-9 733.99 DiseasesDB 10248 eMedicine med/2000 derm/375 MeSH D011081 Relapsing polychondritis (also known as "Atrophic polychondritis,"[1] and "Systemic chondromalacia"[1]) is a condition characterized by deterioration of cartilage.
It is also known as chronic atrophic polychondritis, Meyenburg-Altherr-Uehlinger syndrome, von Meyenburg's disease, generalized chondromalacia, and systemic chondromalacia.
Contents
Presentation
Though any cartilage in the body may be affected, in many cases the disease affects several areas while sparing others completely. Parts of the body where cartilage is found, and therefore potentially affected by polychondritis, include the ears, nose, throat, heart valves, joints and rib cage, among others. Several conditions may result from relapsing polychondritis, including type 3 tracheomalacia and vasculitis. A photograph of polychondritis is shown here [2]
Causes
Reasons for disease onset are not known.
Relapsing polychondritis may be an auto-immune disease[3] in which the human's body's immune system begins to attack and destroy the cartilage tissues in the body.
Treatment
Treatment plans typically involve suppression of the immune system with medicines, often causing an increased risk of other infections.
Onset
While the disease may first present at various times, it most frequently presents in the late 40's to early 50's. Some literature reports a slightly higher occurrence in females than males, while other authors assert that sex is not a statistically significant factor in the incidence of the disease. Relapsing polychondritis is one of many subclasses of disease in the area of rheumatology.
See also
- Relapsing linear acantholytic dermatosis
- List of cutaneous conditions
References
- ^ a b Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 1-4160-2999-0.
- ^ Image of polychondritis of the ear
- ^ "Relapsing Polychondritis: Autoimmune Disorders of Connective Tissue: Merck Manual Home Health Handbook". http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/bone_joint_and_muscle_disorders/autoimmune_disorders_of_connective_tissue/relapsing_polychondritis.html.
4.Patel K. Relapsing polychondritis - delayed diagnosis and fatal outcome. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. Available from- http://www.ijdvl.com/text.asp?2010/76/1/67/58688
External links
- Dr. D. E. Trentham research paper
- MedicineNet.com
- The Polychondritis Group - Support Group
- One RP sufferer goes into remission"
- Relapsing polychondritis
Osteochondropathy (M80–M94, 730–733) Osteopathies endocrine bone disease: Osteitis fibrosa cystica (Brown tumor)infectious bone disease: Osteomyelitis (Sequestrum, Involucrum) · Sesamoiditis · Brodie abscess · PeriostitisBone density
and structureDensity / metabolic bone diseaseContinuity of boneOtherFibrous dysplasia (Monostotic, Polyostotic) · Skeletal fluorosis · bone cyst (Aneurysmal bone cyst) · Hyperostosis (Infantile cortical hyperostosis) · Osteosclerosis (Melorheostosis)OtherChondropathies Relapsing polychondritisOtherBoth lower limb: hip (Legg–Calvé–Perthes syndrome) · tibia (Osgood-Schlatter disease, Blount's disease) · foot (Köhler disease, Sever's disease)Categories:- Autoimmune diseases
- Connective tissue diseases
- Chondropathies
- Medicine stubs
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