Ultrasonography of auricular cartilage is a potential tool for diagnosing relapsing polychondritis and monitoring disease activity.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To assess the clinical utility of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity in relapsing polychondritis (RP).

Methods

Auricular and nasal chondritis of 6 patients with RP were assessed by ultrasonography before treatment initiation. Changes in the ultrasonographic and clinical findings and serum inflammatory markers were longitudinally assessed. Ultrasonography was also performed in 6 patients with repeat ear trauma, 6 patients with auricular cellulitis and 6 healthy controls for comparison among groups.

Results

In all cases of RP, ultrasonographic findings before treatment revealed low-echoic swollen auricular and nasal cartilage and perichondral soft-tissue with increased power Doppler signals (PDS) corresponding to biopsy findings. Aft

SUBMITTER: Yoshida M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9299703 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature