Relapsing polychondritis is an uncommon disease entity seen frequently in association with rheumatic disorders (1,2). Although chondritis is mentioned as occurring in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), this manifestation is either rarely encountered or poorly documented in the literature (1,(3)(4)(5)(6). Two cases of SLE are presented where relapsing polychondritis was a prominent feature of the SLE process.
CASE REPORTS
Case 1. A 29-year-old white woman was admitted with a 9-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus. During this period the patient had biopsy proven membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and recurrent neurologic complaints including headaches, papilledema, choreoathetosis, and transient ischemic attacks. She also complained of arthritis and photosensitivity. Hypertension was a persistent problem which was controlled by Inderal40 mg. She never required corticosteroids or immunosuppressive therapy, and spontaneous resolution had occurred with each symptom.
Laboratory evaluation had revealed a positive antinuclear antibody titer of 1/1000 with a rim pattern. Serum hemolytic complement was persistently normal and LE prep gave negative results. AntiDNA antibody