Recurrent polychondritis involving airway:Clinical Analysis of 20 patients

Objective To study the diagnostic and therapeutic methods of recurrent polychondritis（RP） involving airway. Methods Clinical data about 20 patients with RP involving airway admitted to our hospital from 1998 to 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Results The airway was involved in 20 RP patients,accounting for 45.45%（20/44）.Of the 20 patients,10 were males and 10 were females with a mean age of 42.25 years（range 20-72 years）.The main clinical manifestations were cough,expectoration,chest tightness,shortness of breath,hoarseness and dyspnea.Abnormal chest CT findings included local and diffuse airway wall thickening,airway stenosis and airway wall calcification.Airway collapse,severe airway stenosis,pulmonary infection and atelectasis were usually found in severe patients.Abnormal bronchoscopy showed mucomembranous hyperemia,edema,thickening and unclear cartilaginous ring.Disappeared cartilaginous ring,airway collapse and obvious airway stenosis were identified in severe patients.Therapeutic agents used were corticosteroids,anti-inflammatory drugs,immunosuppressive agents,etc.After treatment,18（90%） patients recovered and 2 died. Conclusion RP involving airway has a variety of clinical manifestations and is easy to be misdiagnosed.The diagnosis of RP mainly depends on its clinical manifestations,chest CT findings,bronchoscopic findings and lung function tests.Early use of corticosteroids can significantly improve its clinical symptoms and prognosis.