Arthritis is reported in about three fourths of cases. This is generally nondestructive. Fever, rashes, oral or genital ulcers, and neurologic and renal disease can occur. There are no diagnostic laboratory tests, although the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is often elevated. There may be anemia and leukocytosis.
Roentgenograms can detect advanced tracheal narrowing.
Cine CT scans and pulmonary function tests can detect more subtle airway obstruction. Relapsing polychondritis is associated with other diseases in one third or more of cases. These include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sj6gren's syndrome, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, vasculitis of various types, cryoglobulinernia, diabetes mellitus, biliary cirrhosis, malignancies, sinusitis, and mastoiclitis. In mild cases nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents can be used for symptomatic treatment, although adrenocorticosteroids in the range of 30 to 60 mg prednisone per day are generally needed for acute inflammatory episodes and severe respiratory involvement. There is no evidence that steroids alter the long-term course of the disease.