Joint involvement is among the most common manifestations of relapsing polychondritis. This page outlines the first-line clinical approach when the disease presents with inflammatory arthritis or arthralgia.
Joint involvement occurs in 52 to 85% of patients with relapsing polychondritis. It most often presents as poly- or oligoarthritis, or as acute or sub-acute arthralgia that may be migratory. This protocol addresses management of relapses and ongoing disease in this inflammatory joint context.
Relapses are managed with anti-inflammatory therapy. Local joint infiltrations may also be useful in appropriate presentations. A background maintenance strategy is part of the full protocol — the complete sequencing, agent selection, and any escalation steps are detailed in the structured regimen below.
DOI: 10.1016/j.revmed.2023.05.005