Polychondritis is a very rare cartilage disease marked by inflammation. This inflammatory disease is also referred to as relapsing polychondritis because frequently its pattern is to flare up and then go into remission. If let unchecked, your inflammation can cause progressive destruction of cartilage, which is then replaced by fibrous connective tissue.
Polychondritis usually affects the cartilage of your ears, nose, throat and ribs. However, it may inflame other cartilage and connective tissue sites.
What causes relapsing polychondritis attacks is unknown. Those with the disease often have another disease involving inflammation, like rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis and lupus.
The first noticeable symptom of polychondritis is usually red and painful ears due to cartilage inflammation. As a consequence, you may experience ear infections, hearing loss, vertigo and tinnitus. The bridge of your nose, throat and rib cartilage may become inflamed, causing nasal congestion, dyspnea, cough and stridor. As your disease progresses, your ears may droop, your nose flatten and breathing may be hindered because windpipe and rib cartilage integrity is compromised.
Also, relapsing inflammation can affect other areas as well, for instance joints, eyes and skin. As a result, arthritis, blindness, skin rashes or a variety of other problems may occur.
Treatment for polychondritis varies, largely based on severity and body parts inflamed. Drugs are the cornerstone of treatment and may include some combination of NSAIDs, analgesics, corticosteroids (typically prednisone) and immunosuppressants. In some cases, surgical repair of degenerated tissue caused by inflammation may be required.
A few diagnosed with this health condition report that their episodes of cartilage inflammation is arrested by following a strict, low fat vegan diet that eliminates all animal protein, including dairy products and eggs. No research support, but doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. Never know unless you try it.