Critical coronary artery stenosis and aortitis in a patient with relapsing polychondritis.

Abstract

To the Editors: Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a multisystem autoimmune disease with cartilage inflammation. Cardiovascular manifestations are associated with significant morbidity and mortality1,2. Vasculitis involving the coronary arteries is rare. Our patient developed severe ostial lesions in 2 major coronary arteries and aortitis requiring surgical intervention despite intensive medical treatment. A 30-year-old male Caucasian dental surgeon developed a painful, swollen left ear in January 2001. He was otherwise asymptomatic. Initial laboratory investigations were normal. A clinical diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis was made. His ear inflammation resolved after prednisone 30 mg daily for 3 weeks. Over the next 5 years he…