Respiratory subtype of relapsing polychondritis frequently presents as difficult asthma: a descriptive study of respiratory involvement in relapsing polychondritis with 13 patients from a single UK centre.

Relapsing polychondritis may be overlooked in "difficult asthma" clinics with patients having TBM (not asthma) and other features of relapsing polychondritis. Awareness of this condition is crucial to enable early diagnosis and interventions to reduce the risk of life-threatening airway collapse. A number of patients respond well to DMARDs and are able to minimise corticosteroid use.