Limited auricular relapsing polychondritis in a child treated successfully with infliximab

Abstract

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare progressive and destructive multisystem disorder characterised by recurrent inflammation of cartilaginous structures. It is a rare disease in paediatrics compared with adults. In children, the diagnosis is either delayed or overlooked due to low incidence. Auricular chondritis has been described in more than half of paediatric cases with RP. However, isolated auricular chondritis has not been reported as the only presentation of pediatric-onset RP. We described a lad who presented with isolated auricular chondritis, which is refractory to conventional treatment, including glucocorticoids and methotrexate as steroid-sparing agent. Remission of his disease’s relapses was sustained with infliximab. Limited auricular involvement as a presenting feature of RP in the absence of systemic association is very rare in children. We describe a case of successful use of infliximab on limited auricular chondritis disease.