Refractory relapsing polychondritis: rapid and sustained response in the treatment with an IL-1 receptor antagonist (anakinra)

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Sir, Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is an episodic and progressive inflammatory disease of the non-synovial fibrocartilage. The diagnosis of the disease is relatively easily based on the typical clinical manifestations [1] and the modified diagnostic criteria proposed by Michet et al. [2]. The scarcity of the disease, with an estimated prevalence of 3.5/1 000 000, does not permit evaluation of drug responses in controlled trials [3]. Glucocorticoids are the therapeutic choice for reducing the inflammatory process in patients with RP. For patients with sustained disease, many immunosuppressive drugs have been used as steroid-sparing agents. This report describes the successful treatment with the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) anakinra in a patient with refractory RP.