A case of relapsing polychondritis associated with auricular cartilage infiltration of immunoglobulin G4-positive plasma cells and lung cancer

Otologic manifestations of IgG4-related disease

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic autoimmune fibroinflammatory disease characterized by multiorgan infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells, fibrosis and vasculopathy that determine dysfunction of the affected organ. This review aims to characterize the otologic manifestations of the disease. We have conducted a systematic review of the biomedical literature published describing cases of IgG4-RD with otologic manifestations. For the review, the bibliographic databases utilized were Pubmed, Web of Science and Scopus. We selected 48 cases from which we extracted several data collections. About 52% of the patients were male between the ages of 19 and 79 years. Otologic findings were characterized by pseudotumoral lesions that most often caused a clinical presentation similar to otitis media with effusion, with cochlear involvement or sensorineural hearing loss (uni- o bilateral). Less frequent presentations included auricular chondritis, eosinophilic otitis, or hypertrophic pachymeningitis. In 32 patients (67%) the otologic manifestation was the first symptom of the ER-IgG4. Sixteen patients (33%) were treated with mastoidectomies as a result of delayed diagnosis and lack of knowledge about this entity. Two patients needed a cochlear implant. Although the otologic manifestations of IgG4-RD are unusual, it is important for the otorhinolaryngologist to know the otologic manifestations of this entity as it can be the onset of the disease, in order to allow early diagnosis and adequate treatment, avoiding permanent sequelae.

Relapsing Polychondritis as a Cause of Sudden and Unexpected Death With Central Nervous System Involvement

ABSTRACT

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare inflammatory disease process that affects cartilaginous tissues throughout the body. Although the pathogenesis remains unknown, RP is thought to be an autoimmune disorder in which host immune cells are conditioned to attack the body's cartilage, such as the ears, nose, eyes, joints, and airways, resulting in inflammation and destruction of otherwise healthy tissues. In rare and unusual cases, neurological involvement has been described.We report a case of a 36-year-old man with a medical history of asthma and suspected seronegative rheumatoid arthritis/RP and panuveitis who was found deceased in his residence. Postmortem examination revealed cartilaginous destruction of the external ear and large airways and meningoencephalitis involving the left medial temporal lobe without an underlying infectious cause.Progressive destruction of airway tissue and increased susceptibility to pulmonary infection is the most common cause of death in RP. Central nervous system involvement is exceedingly rare, presenting with highly variable clinical and pathological manifestations. A review of RP and systemic manifestations will follow. Accurate recognition of this multisystem autoimmune disease as a cause of sudden and unexpected death is critical for proper death certification and to broaden our understanding of this disease.

Small cell lung cancer with relapsing polychondritis: A report of one case and the review of literature

The present study reports the clinical data of a patient with small cell lung cancer who developed relapsing polychondritis. We report a case of a 57-year-old female presented with cough, expectoration, and fever. A Computed Tomography (CT) scan performed at the hospital revealed diffuse thickening of bronchial walls in both lungs. Bronchoscopy revealed that the tracheal mucosa was thickened, narrowed, and collapsed, and the bronchoscope could pass through. The bronchial mucosa on both sides was thickened and edematous, the surface was rough, each bronchus was narrow, and the intervertebral ridges were widened. Needle biopsy: considering small cell carcinoma in combination with immunohistochemical results. Her symptom was not improved after anti-infective therapy. The left auricle was red and swollen, the auricle collapsed, and the left eye had subconjunctival hemorrhage during her hospitalization without obvious cause. After multidisciplinary consultation, pulmonary small cell lung cancer cT0N2Mx rumen lymph node metastasis and RP were considered. Treatment: Prednisone, orally for RP. Chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy was given for small cell lung cancer. The chemotherapy regimen was carboplatin combined with etoposide. The patient has already been followed for 1 year after receiving chemoradiotherapy; the condition of the patient is stable at present. Based on the case of our patient, for cases of RP with symptoms such as auricle chondritis, ocular inflammatory disease, and nasal chondritis, we should pay great attention to whether the case is caused by lung cancer with relapsing polychondritis. Because of the rarity of the disease, the clinician should improve the recognition of the disease in order to strive for early diagnosis and therapy.

Relapsing Polychondritis or RP-like Symptoms Associated With IgG4-RD. Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare systemic disorder characterized by recurrent, widespread chondritis of the auricular, nasal, and tracheal cartilages. IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic immune-mediated disease characterized by the infiltration of IgG4-bearing plasma cells into systemic organs. Although 25% to 35% of patients with RP have a concurrent autoimmune disease. The coexistence of RP and IgG4 is rare considering that, to the best of our knowledge, there are only four previous reports of RP or RP-like symptoms associated with IgG4-RD. (1-4) We herein report two cases which could be RP or RP-like symptoms associated with IgG4-RD.

Sudden Cardiac Death due to Coronary Artery Vasculitis in a Patient with Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by relapsing and remitting inflammation of the cartilaginous structures of the ears, nose, tracheobronchial tree, and joints. Diagnosis is challenging due to the heterogeneity of clinical manifestations, the relapsing and remitting nature of the disease, the presence of coexistent diseases in at least one-third of patients, and the lack of a diagnostic blood test. Although RP-associated cardiac disease is the second most common cause of death behind tracheobronchial complications, coronary artery vasculitis is rare. This report describes a case of sudden cardiac death due to vasculitis affecting the coronary arteries in a patient with RP. The pathologic findings included obliterative coronary arteritis with plasma cells and storiform fibrosis, features suggesting that IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) may have contributed to the patient's cardiac disease. The literature on vasculitis and cardiac disease in RP and the possible role of IgG4-RD in this setting is also reviewed. The primary take-home message from this case report is the importance of frequent screening for cardiac disease, regardless of symptoms, in patients with RP. In addition, considering the diagnosis of IgG4-RD in some cases thought to be RP may also be warranted.

Relapsing Polychondritis: an Update on Pathogenesis, Clinical Features, Diagnostic Tools, and Therapeutic Perspectives

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare multisystemic disease widely accepted as a complex autoimmune disorder affecting proteoglycan-rich structures and cartilaginous tissues, especially the auricular pinna, cartilage of the nose, tracheobronchial tree, eyes, and heart's connective components. The clinical spectrum may vary from intermittent inflammatory episodes leading to unesthetic structural deformities to life-threatening cardiopulmonary manifestations, such as airway collapse and valvular regurgitation. The frequent association with other rheumatologic and hematologic disorders has been extensively reported over time, contributing to define its complexity at a diagnostic and also therapeutic level. Diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis is mainly based on clinical clues, while laboratory data have only a supportive contribution. Conversely, radiology is showing a relevant role in estimating the rate of systemic involvement as well as disease activity. The present review is aimed at providing an update on scientific data reported during the last 3 years about relapsing polychondritis in terms of pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and new treatment options.

New onset of immunoglobulin G4-related disease in a patient with relapsing polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by the episodic and progressive deterioration of cartilage inflammation. Approximately 30% patients with RP have concurrent disease. However, there have been no previous reports of RP complicated by immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Here we report the case of a 67-year-old male who developed IgG4-RD approximately 20 years after RP diagnosis. The association between IgG4-RD and RP remains unclear.