The Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) provides the following list of features that have been reported in people with this condition. Much of the information in the HPO comes from Orphanet, a European rare disease database. If available, the list includes a rough estimate of how common a feature is (its frequency). Frequencies are based on a specific study and may not be representative of all studies. You can use the MedlinePlus Medical Dictionary for definitions of the terms below.
| Signs and Symptoms | Approximate number of patients (when available) |
| Arthritis | Very frequent (present in 80%-99% of cases) |
| Cataract | Very frequent (present in 80%-99% of cases) |
| Chondritis | Very frequent (present in 80%-99% of cases) |
| Chondritis of pinna | Very frequent (present in 80%-99% of cases) |
| Large vessel vasculitis | Very frequent (present in 80%-99% of cases) |
| Abnormality of the aortic valve | Frequent (present in 30%-79% of cases) |
| Atelectasis | Frequent (present in 30%-79% of cases) |
| Cough | Frequent (present in 30%-79% of cases) |
| Dyspnea | Frequent (present in 30%-79% of cases) |
| Limitation of joint mobility | Frequent (present in 30%-79% of cases) |
| Pericarditis | Frequent (present in 30%-79% of cases) |
| Vertigo | Frequent (present in 30%-79% of cases) |
| Abnormal pattern of respiration | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Abnormality of the endocardium | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Alopecia | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Aneurysm | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Anteriorly placed anus | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Arthralgia | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Biparietal narrowing | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Conjunctivitis | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Cranial nerve paralysis | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Episcleritis | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Erythema | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Gangrene | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Glomerulopathy | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Hematuria | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Hepatitis | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Keratitis | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Laryngomalacia | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Macule | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Myocarditis | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Proteinuria | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Purpura | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Recurrent aphthous stomatitis | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Renal insufficiency | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Scleritis | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Sensorineural hearing impairment | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Thrombophlebitis | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
| Uveitis | Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases) |
Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.
Nonprofit support and advocacy groups bring together patients, families, medical professionals, and researchers. These groups often raise awareness, provide support, and develop patient-centered information. Many are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct people to research, resources, and services. Many groups also have experts who serve as medical advisors. Visit their website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.
Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.
These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.
Relapsing Polychondritis Study
April 5, 2017
New Rare Disease Patient Video Series
July 18, 2016
Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question
My mom was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis about ten years ago. Her's was a very serious condition. I was just wondering if it is genetic. As far as we know I have no other family history of this condition. I just worry for my future and possibly my kids. And also is there any type of genetic tests that can be done to see if I will end up having what my mom has or anything else weird. See answer
I was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis about a month ago. I would like to know if there are certain foods I should avoid that could trigger the pains associated with this condition. See answer
My wife was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis over 6 years ago. Her ear flares up about 2-3 times a year. In the beginning it went away on its own; now she takes prednisone but only during the flare. Our doctor says the next step would be methotrexate but before that she'd be on daily prednisone. The disease doesn't seem to be progressing and CT and PET scans indicate no other damage. Is there something more we should be doing such as diet supplements or other medications? Are there other things we should be watching for? See answer
