Arthritis of Relapsing Polychondritis
The arthritis of RPC is usually an oligoarticular or polyarticular, asymmetric, nonerosive inflammatory arthritis with a predilection for the ankles, wrists, hands, and feet as well as the sternoclavicular, costochondral, and sternomanubrial joints. Tenosynovitis is common.
The arthritis is typically acute, migratory, and episodic, resolving spontaneously over days to weeks. Rarely, it can become chronic. When the small joints of the hands and feet are affected, the disease may mimic seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. A report of flail chest has been described secondary to inflammatory lysis of the costosternal cartilage. Cervical, lumbar, and sacroiliac inflammation has been reported as well. The arthritis activity does not correlate with other disease manifestations of RPC.
