This page was last updated: September 21, 2007

  Common Symptoms   

displayed before and after treatment   

General

• Intermittent fever
  

• Weight loss (before treatment with prednisone)
  

• Malaise (A vague general discomfort or feeling of illness)
  

• Fatigue
  

• Skin rash
  

Audiovestibular

• Sudden ear pain, unilateral or bilateral
  

• Unable to sleep on affected side.
  

• Floppy ear
  

• Suddenly diminished hearing
  

• Tinnitus, occasional or persistent
  

• Otitis media
  

• Ear drainage
  

• Vertigo (with or without nausea and vomiting)
  

• Unsteadiness
  

Musculoskeletal

• Polyarthritis or monoarthritis
  

• Myalgias (muscle pain)
  

• Back pain
  

• Rib pain
  

• Sternal pain
  

• Calf pain or claudication
  

• Migratory or generalized arthralgias
  

Respiratory

• Dyspnea (Difficult or labored breathing)
  

• Wheezing
  

• Cough
  

• Exercise intolerance
  

• Hoarseness
  

• Recurrent infection
  

Gastrointestinal

• Dysphagia (Difficulty swallowing)
  

Nasal

• Feeling of fullness across nasal bridge
  

• Painful, red, swollen nose
  

• Saddle-nose shape
  

• Mild epistaxis (Nosebleed)
  

Ocular

• Decreased visual acuity
  

• Conjunctivitis, episcleritis, scleritis, uveitis
  

• History of ocular inflammation
  

• Diplopia (Double vision)
  

• Eyelid swelling
  

Cardiovascular

• Chest pain
  

• Abdominal pain
  

• History of pericarditis
  

• History of subacute myocardial infarction  (found on EKG)
  

Central nervous system:

• Headache
  

• Ataxia  (lack of muscle coordination)
  

• Confusion
  

• Seizures
  

• Palsies of/or pain in the cranial nerves, Esp. the 7th and 8th cranial nerve
  

Relapsing Polychondritis (RPC) can have a wide array of possible presenting symptoms that are episodic  by nature.

Not all persons with RPC will display or develop all complaints listed below.

Please see diagnostic criteria for Relapsing Polychondritis.