Erosive arthritis in relapsing polychondritis

We report the case history of a 57 year old man who has suffered from typical deforming, relapsing polychondritis for 13 years. He has also developed erosive destructive seronegative polyarthritis involving some of his distal interphalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal, intercarpal, wrist, intertarsal and metatarsophalangeal joints. The distribution of joint involvement in the small joints of the hands and feet is asymmetrical. Both hips and knee joints have also been involved necessitating bilateral total hip and right total knee replacement. The articular associations with relapsing polychondritis are discussed.