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Relapsing Polychondritis: an Update on Pathogenesis, Clinical Features, Diagnostic Tools, and Therapeutic Perspectives

  • Orphan Diseases (B Manger, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare multisystemic disease widely accepted as a complex autoimmune disorder affecting proteoglycan-rich structures and cartilaginous tissues, especially the auricular pinna, cartilage of the nose, tracheobronchial tree, eyes, and heart’s connective components. The clinical spectrum may vary from intermittent inflammatory episodes leading to unesthetic structural deformities to life-threatening cardiopulmonary manifestations, such as airway collapse and valvular regurgitation. The frequent association with other rheumatologic and hematologic disorders has been extensively reported over time, contributing to define its complexity at a diagnostic and also therapeutic level. Diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis is mainly based on clinical clues, while laboratory data have only a supportive contribution. Conversely, radiology is showing a relevant role in estimating the rate of systemic involvement as well as disease activity. The present review is aimed at providing an update on scientific data reported during the last 3 years about relapsing polychondritis in terms of pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and new treatment options.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center of Systemic Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Diseases, Rheumatology Unit, Policlinico Le Scotte, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 1, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Antonio Vitale, Jurgen Sota & Luca Cantarini

  2. Institute of Pediatrics, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy

    Donato Rigante

  3. Rheumatology Unit, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Policlinico of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Giuseppe Lopalco & Florenzo Iannone

  4. Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery, and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Francesco Molinaro & Mario Messina

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  1. Antonio Vitale
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  2. Jurgen Sota
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Vitale, A., Sota, J., Rigante, D. et al. Relapsing Polychondritis: an Update on Pathogenesis, Clinical Features, Diagnostic Tools, and Therapeutic Perspectives. Curr Rheumatol Rep 18, 3 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-015-0549-5

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