Abstract
Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by episodic and progressive inflammatory disease most commonly presenting as inflammation of the cartilage of the ears, nose, tracheobronchial tree and joints. The course of RP varies from a low-grade, mild condition up to a fulminating and rapidly progressive disease. Spontaneous remissions are common.
This chapter also summarizes important aspects of the disease with a focus on diagnostics criteria. In fact, over the years, three sets of diagnostic criteria for RP have been proposed by McAdam, Damiani and Levine, and Michet, respectively. Although these criteria have not been re-examined by consensus group members and despite the lack of validation, these show high affordability in discriminating patients affected by RP in every day clinical practice.
In conclusion, for achieving reliable classification criteria that would also be useful for the diagnosis of RP, more extensive multicenter studies are needed.
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© 2008 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
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Galeazzi, M., Porciello, G. (2008). Relapsing Polychondritis. In: Shoenfeld, Y., Cervera, R., Gershwin, M.E. (eds) Diagnostic Criteria in Autoimmune Diseases. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-285-8_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-285-8_9
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