cartilage and RP

[Guest guest]

Hi! All cartilage is not the same. RP seems to be attracked to several different

types of cartilage. But here is the listing of the areas that are affected most

often by RP. For the full article please go to www.emedicine.com and enter

polychondritis under search. It is printable, althought it is 32 pages long.

Hope this helps.

R.

Background: Relapsing polychondritis is an uncommon and severe episodic

inflammatory condition involving cartilaginous structures, predominantly those

of the ear, nose and laryngotracheobronchial tree. Other affected structures may

include the eye, cardiovascular system, peripheral joints, middle ear, and inner

ear. In 1923, Jaksch-Wartenhorst described a patient who suffered an 18-month

course of progressive degeneration of the peripheral joints, external ears,

nasal septum, external auditory canals, inner ear and epiglottis. He termed this

condition " polychondropathia. " In 1960, Pearson, Kline, and Newcomer reviewed 12

cases and expanded the clinical spectrum of disease to include nonconcurrent

inflammation of the auricles, nasal septum, peripheral joints, and larynx, with

occasional involvement of the middle and inner ear, the eyes, costal cartilages,

spine, trachea, bronchi, and epiglottis. They noted that after a few episodes of

inflammation, the cartilage was replaced by fibrous connective tissue. The term

relapsing polychondritis (RP) was introduced in this review.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/11/01 10:10:01 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

SkyfireRanch@... writes:

<< www.emedicine.com >>

, thanks for the great site. Nice to see the pictures...Now we know

what we look like.LOL Thanks for sending it...Gives alot of information....I

learned alot.

Hugs

C