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Relapsing polychondritis is a generalized recurring disease of cartilage in which chondrolysis causes clinical arthritis. Clinical manifestations include swelling and redness of the ears and nasal cartilage with dissolution of portions of these cartilages. The disease is thought to represent an abnormality in acid mucopolysaccharide metabolism. It is considered an acquired metabolic disorder with a possible hypersensitivity or altered immunity basis. There is involvement of hand and foot joints, as well as of the spine, sacroiliac joint, trachea, ears, heart, and aorta. Pulmonary changes including emphysema and infection are common.
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Johnson et al. (1973) studied this question.
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