relapsing polychondritis

relapsing polychondritis n a connective tissue disease esp. of cartilage that is characterized usu. by recurrent progressively destructive episodes of tissue inflammation (as of the ears, nose, larynx, trachea, eyes, joints, kidney, or heart) and that is inferred to have an autoimmune etiology from its frequent association with autoimmune diseases (as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus)

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a disease of unknown etiology with a chronic course and sometimes recurrence, marked by inflammatory and degenerative lesions of cartilage in the joints, ears, nose, trachea, bronchi, and elsewhere, with deformities such as floppy ear and saddle nose; if the tracheal or bronchial wall collapses, respiratory obstruction may occur. The aorta, sclera, and cornea are also affected. Called also chronic atrophic p. and polychondropathia.