Purpose: Relapsing polychondritis (RPC) is a rare systemic disease affecting p rimarily cartilaginous and proteoglycan-rich structures. It is a potentially fa tal disease with unknown aetiology. There are no specific tests for RPC. The dia gnosis is dependant on clinical criteria, which include chondritis of both auric les, non-erosive inflammatory polyarthritis, nasal chondritis, ocular inflammat ion, respiratory tract chondritis and cochlear and/or vestibular damage. Ocular symptoms will occur in approximately 60%of RPC patients. As an example, a patie nt with signs of RPC is described. Methods/Result: A 30-year-old woman was ref erred to our department for evaluation of a central corneal ulcer in the left ey e. She had a history of recurrent pain in both her auricles and was also found t o have a nasal septum perforation. Relapsing polychondritis was suspected. Concl usion: Non-healing corneal ulcers should alert the ophthalmologist to look for unusual reasons for this condition. RPC is one possible cause.
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