Encefalopatía subaguda en una paciente con policondritis recidivante: caso clínico / Subacute encephalopathy associated with relapsing polychondritis: report of one case

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare multisystemic autoimmune disorder characterized by the inflammation and destruction of cartilages, with preference for auricular, nasal and laryngotracheal cartilages. RP may also affect proteoglycan-rich structures, such as, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and heart. The central nervous system (CNS) is involved in less than 3% of patients. We report a 32-year-old female with RP associated with a progressive subacute encephalopathy characterized by behavioral disturbances, auditory and visual hallucinations. The EEG showed generalized slow activity and a mononuclear pleocytosis with increased protein was found in the cerebrospinal fluid. The brain magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple supra and infratentorial nodular inflammatory lesions. After initiating treatment with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, a significant improvement in chondritis and neurological status was observed.

Policondritis recidivante, un desafío diagnóstico / Relapsing Polychondritis, a Constant Challenge

La policondritis recidivante es una enfermedad sistémica, infrecuente, que afecta las estructuras cartilaginosas, predominantemente del pabellón auricular, nariz, articulaciones y árbol traqueobronquial. Se presenta una paciente de sexo femenino de 63 años con historia de estenosis traqueobronquial, condritis clínica, nariz en silla de montar e hipoacusia neurosensorial con diagnóstico de policondritis recidivante. Debido a su baja frecuencia, diagnóstico clínico y similitud con otras enfermedades esta entidad siempre plantea un desafío diagnóstico.

Relapsing Polychronditis is an uncommon, systemic disease that affects the cartilage structures, primarily the elastic cartilage of the ears, nose, joints and the tracheobronchial tree. We present the case of a 63 year-old female with a history of tracheobronchial stenosis, clinical chondritis, saddleback nose and neurosensorial hypoacusis. The diagnosis of Relapsing Polychronditis was reached. Due to its low incidence rate, clinical diagnosis and similarity to other diseases, the diagnosis of this disease always represents a challenge.

Syndrome In Question

The authors present a male 40-year-old patient with established diagnosis of Behçet's disease which had evolved to recurrent bilateral auricular polychondritis crises. MAGIC syndrome (mouth and genital ulcers with inflamed cartilage) is rare and groups together patients with this clinical picture without necessarily fulfilling the clinical criteria for Behçet's disease or relapsing polychondritis, demonstrating an independent disorder.

Síndrome de Sweet e policondrite recidivante reveladores de síndrome mielodisplásica / Sweet's Syndrome and relapsing polychondritis signal myelodysplastic syndrome

Certas dermatoses, pertencentes ao grupo das síndromes paraneoplásicas mucocutâneas, podem ser o prenúncio de uma neoplasia previamente não conhecida. Tanto a síndrome de Sweet como a policondrite recidivante incluem-se neste grupo. A síndrome de Sweet e a PR são raramente encontradas em um mesmo paciente. A presença de policondrite recidivante e síndrome de Sweet em um mesmo paciente tem se revelado mais frequente em pacientes com neoplasias associadas, sobretudo hematológicas. Relata-se o caso de paciente do sexo masculino, 79 anos, com síndrome de Sweet e policondrite recidivante, em quem, subsequentemente, foi diagnosticada uma síndrome mielodisplásica.

The emergence of certain skin conditions belonging to the group of mucocutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes may indicate the future appearance of a previously unknown malignancy. Sweet's Syndrome and relapsing polychondritis are included in this group. Sweet's Syndrome and relapsing polychondritis are very rarely found together in the same patient. This dual occurrence is more commonly found in cancer patients with associated hematological malignancies. We report the case of a 79year-old male with Sweet's Syndrome and relapsing polychondritis, who was subsequently diagnosed with a myelodysplastic syndrome.