The Ocular Manifestations of Relapsing Polychondritis

Purpose: Relapsing polychondritis (RPC) is a rare, multi-system, inflammatory disorder. Ocular disease is estimated to occur in 14 to 67% of patients with RPC and any ocular structure can be affected. Published case reports and series of RPC were analysed to determine the frequency and nature of the ocular manifestations of RPC, including the age and gender distribution. Methods: A literature search of the MEDLINE database for case reports and series on RPC was conducted using search terms (relapsing polychondritis[MeSH Major Topic]) OR (relapsing polychondritis[Title/Abstract]). Articles were included if the diagnosis of RPC was confirmed using established diagnostic criteria and if the paper described the clinical features of patients with RPC. Results: 546 articles (454 case reports and 92 case series) described the clinical features in a total of 2414 patients with RPC. 49% of patients with RPC had ocular involvement and this was a presenting feature in 21%. The most common ocular manifestations were scleritis (32%), episcleritis (31%) and uveitis (23%). Conclusion: Many patients with RPC will be seen by an ophthalmologist during the course of their disease. Knowledge and awareness of RPC and its ocular manifestations is therefore essential to enable the ophthalmologist to make the diagnosis.