Endobronchial stenting for respiratory complications in relapsing polychondritis.

Relapsing polychondritis is characterized by recurrent inflammation and destruction of the cartilage and connective tissue. Respiratory complications are frequently severe during the course of the disease and usually signal a poor prognosis. We report a case of a 47-year-old man with known relapsing polychondritis who presented with bilateral narrowing of the airways complicated by refractory cavitary Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. Despite an aggressive antibiotic regimen, the patient's pneumonia did not improve until bronchial stenting 4 months later.