CLINICAL CASES   

Otorinolaringologia 1998 December;48(4):187-91

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Audiovestibular alterations within relapsing polychondritis. Two cases report

Sallì L.*, Cusimano S., Maggio O., Martines E., Pappalardo A.*

From the Department of Audiology (Head of Department: Prof. G. Grisanti) and * Department of Rheumatology (Head of Department: Prof. A. Pappalardo) University of Palermo

New diagnostic techniques and interdisciplinary studies have increased the clinical knowledge of autoimmune connectivities, showing some totally new aspects. Particularly, as far as the audiovestibular system is concerned, many studies are aimed at discovering how the middle and the inner ear are involved in autoimmune diseases. While autoimmune origin of audiovestibular damages are well documented, the anatomical changes that cause them are not well known. Two cases of Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) with lesions of the nose and of the audiovestibular system are reported. These patients have been submitted to otorhynolaryngological, histologic and immunologic examination.