Respiratory tract involvement in Relapsing Polychondritis
Distribution of disease, clinical symptoms and potential complications of respiratory tract involvement in RPC
Cartilage inflammation may occur early in the larynx and trachea, and later in the first- and second-order bronchi. In mild cases, symptoms might consist of throat tenderness, hoarseness, and a nonproductive cough. In severe cases, laryngeal and epiglottal edema may cause choking, stridor, dyspnea, or respiratory failure requiring emergency tracheostomy. Repeated or persistent inflammation of the airways can lead to either tracheal stenosis or dynamic airway collapse caused by dissolution of the tracheal and bronchial cartilaginous rings. Costochondritis can cause respiratory splinting and, when severe, can cause depression of the anterior chest wall. Respiratory tract infections frequently complicate the clinical course of these patients.
