ENT manifestations of the relapsing polychondritis (RP) in diabetic patients

Amal Chakroun; Nawres Bouaziz; May Ferjani; Mehdi Farjaoui; Rachida Bouatay; Nawres Kolsi; Amel Korbi; Kamel Harrathi; Jamel Koubaa

doi:10.1530/endoabs.110.EP304

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Endocrine Abstracts (2025) 110 EP304 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.110.EP304

ECEESPE2025 ePoster Presentations Bone and Mineral Metabolism (142 abstracts)

ENT manifestations of the relapsing polychondritis (RP) in diabetic patients

Amal Chakroun ¹ , Nawres Bouaziz ¹ , May Ferjani ¹ , Mehdi Farjaoui ¹ , Rachida Bouatay ¹ , Nawres Kolsi ¹ , Amel Korbi ¹ , Kamel Harrathi ¹ & Jamel Koubaa ¹

Author affiliations

¹Fattouma Bourguiba Hospital, ENT Departement, Monastir, Tunisia

JOINT3719

Introduction: Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare inflammatory systemic disease mainly affects cartilage, and describes several ENT manifestations.

Aim: To describe the clinical and evolutionary particularities, in diabetic patients with autoimmune polychondritis, and their therapeutic management.

Objectives: The patient was 80 years old, with a history of diabetes. He presented to our emergency department with a swelling of the right auricle that had been evolving for 3 days in a context of apyrexia, associated with vertiginous attacks, bilateral hypoacusis evolving for years, and chronic dysphonia. Examination revealed swelling, warmth, redness and pain over the right auricle. The external auditory canal was well calibrated, with a free mastoid region. A peripheral vestibular syndrome was noted, and the nasofibroscopy showed a laryngeal pseudomyxoma. A biological inflammatory syndrome was noted. the patient was initially put on intravenous antibiotic therapy for 15 days without any improvement, with worsening of the affected area and fistulization to the skin. A microbiological sample showed the presence of pseudomonas aeruginosa and antibiotic therapy was set according to the antibiogram. A cervicothoracic CT was performed in search of respiratory tract chondritis, which came back normal. The progression was complicated by sepsis, followed by infectious endocarditis, requiring a transfer to cardiology, for further treatment. During hospitalization in the cardiology department, The patient developed perichondritis of the contralateral ear, internal medicine was consulted to investigate a possible RP in a diabetic patient, with a series of additional exams enabling us to confirm RP.

Conclusion: It’s important to know how to recognize RP, because a delay can lead to severe complications. Diagnosis is clinical and may be supported by biopsy and response to treatment.