Relapsing polychondritis in childhood - case report and short review

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a disease of unknown etiology and it is ch aracterized by inflammation of the cartilage. While the clinical picture of RP in adults is well described, RP in childhood is poorly documented. We d escribe a young girl presenting with acute dyspnea, strider and polyarthrit is. The diagnosis of RP was made 2 years after first presentation, when aur icular chondritis occurred. Based on a MEDLINE search, reports on RP in chi ldhood were reviewed. The frequency of chondritis and systemic manifestatio ns of RP in children was compared to data in adults and found to be very si milar. RP in childhood carl be a life-threatening and debilitating disease.