Dermatological manifestations of relapsing polychondritis

A frequent occurrence: Dermatological manifestations are frequently observe d in patients with relapsing polychondritis. However, they have not been ex tensively studied as polychondritis is a rare disease and the reported derm atological manifestations appear to be nonspecific. A wide spectrum: The most frequently observed manifestations are aphthosis with sometimes complex aphthosis, nodular papular or purpuric lesions, Neut rophilic dermatosis has been reported in isolated cases. Histologically, th ese lesions correspond to nonspecific inflammatory infiltrates, vasculitis or thrombosis. Various pathological findings are observed in nodular lesion s. Related and overlap conditions: Similar dermatological manifestations occur in Behcet's syndrome and in inflammatory bowel diseases. Patients with rel apsing polychondritis and myelodysplasia very frequently have dermatologica l manifestations. Repeated blood cell determinations are therefore necessar y in patients with relapsing polychondritis and dermatological manifestatio ns.