What Is Relapsing Polychondritis?

 

What Is Relapsing Polychondritis?

 

What Is Relapsing Polychondritis?

Relapsing Polychondritis is an autoimmune rare disease and the cause is unknown. 

The following is a break down of the medical term, Relapsing Polychondritis :

Chondritis refers to cartilage
Poly means more than one episode
Relapsing as a noun means to fall back or return

Relapsing PolyChondritis is an inflammatory disease that affects cartilage.

What Is Cartilage?

Cartilage is flexible strong tissue that gives form and support to part of your body.

The inflammation of cartilage can lead to the neurosis of the cartilage.

Relapsing Polychondritis can affect any part of your body that is cartilage.

What that means, is Relapsing Polychondritis can cause inflammation and death to the body’s cartilage. 

The affected cartilage may include:

  • Nose
  • Eyes
  • Joints
  • Spine
  • Ears
  • Windpipe
  • Eyes
  • Heart
  • Blood Vessels may be affected as they have a  biochemical makeup that is similar to cartilage.

A diagnosis for Relapsing Polychondritis is usually not easily found.

Relapsing Polychondritis is rare and affects only 3 to 5 people per million. 

The first symptom of Relapsing PolyChondritis is usually inflammation of the ear or ears.

However, Relapsing Polychondritis may first affect a different cartilage than ears.

What Causes Relapsing Polychondritis?

What causes Relapsing PolyChondritis is unknown.

The disease of Relapsing Polychondritis is rare and there is not a sufficient amount of data.

The first course of treatment for Relapsing Polychondritis is Prednisone (Steroids).

If steroids do not resolve the Relapsing Polychondritis symptom then addition medication is given.

Relapsing Polychondritis is usually a progressive disease and it may result in blindness, loss of hearing and death.

However, a person may go into remission from Relapsing Polychondritis for long periods of time.

Relapsing Polychondritis

I have Relapsing Polychondritis.

I had a difficult time finding a Relapsing Polychondritis diagnosis and treatment.

My first symptom of Relapsing Polychondritis was stabbing right rib pain that bought me to the ground. 

As with many rare autoimmune diseases, the treatments often vary from each patient. 

IVIG helps keep my Relapsing Polychondritis at bay. 

My Relapsing Polychondritis has progressed over the last ten years but I am continuously learning how to halt its progress.

I have found the Relapsing Polychondritis Research Trust offers a wealth of information. 

 

 

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