Costochondritis in relapsing polychondritis

EULAR Rheumatology Open, vol. 1, pp. 4–5

Abstract

A 66-year-old man was referred to the rheumatology outpatient clinic because of inability to taper prednisone treatment given because of polymyalgia rheumatica with a disease duration of 10 years.Tapering prednisone to less than 10 mg/d had previously led to increased arthralgia and stiffness.In the last 6 years, the patient had undergone joint replacement surgery of both hips and the right shoulder.At presentation, the patient reported shortness of breath and hoarseness.On examination, the patient had a body mass index (BMI) of 17, a saddle nose deformity, and swollen antihelixes of both ears.Acute phase reactants (C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]s) were elevated.Peripheral blood tests showed mild normocytic anaemia, which eventually resolved with treatment, but no abnormalities suggestive of myelodysplastic syndrome.Pulmonary function tests showed restrictive and

Authors 3

1. Floris A van Gaalen Aachen Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Richard Raghoo Aachen Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

3. G.C.M. Van de Ven Aachen Dept of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands