DEAR DR. GOTT: What can you tell me about relapsing polychondritis? I can’t find much help on the Web. I’ve had flare-ups three times a year for years, affecting one ear and sometimes both at the same time. Surprisingly, my last episode was three years ago, and it lasted six weeks, but now I am dealing with it again. Two different specialists have been of no help. The condition gets painful before it gets better.

DEAR READER: Polychondritis is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory autoimmune reaction of cartilage in various tissues of the body, including the ears, nose, spine, trachea and joints. The eyes, blood vessels, skin and heart, while not formed by cartilage, have a similar makeup and can also be involved. The condition generally affects men and women in middle age. Symptoms typically begin with one or both ears becoming red, swollen and painful.
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