Syncope in a patient with relapsing polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare disease, characterised by recurrent episodes of inflammation of cartilaginous tissues and other proteoglycan rich structures.1,2 The cardiovascular system is affected in 24–52% according to different series,1,3,4 and typically is not the presenting feature but appears after a mean of six years after the onset of symptoms5; aortic regurgitation is the most common manifestation (4–10%), followed by mitral regurgitation (2–8%), aortic aneurysm (2–7%), pericarditis (0–8%), and conduction disturbances (4–6%).1,3,6,7 Cardiovascular disease mostly affects male patients and is the second most common cause of death in RP.5 All types of atrioventricular conduction defects have been reported in RP. …