What more serious symptoms can develop with relapsing polychondritis?

In more severe cases, relapsing polychondritis can cause:

* Ear problems. Inflammation of the ear cartilage can cause pain, hearing loss, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

* Eye problems. Inflammation of the eye cartilage can cause pain, redness, and vision problems.

* Nasal problems. Inflammation of the nasal cartilage can cause a runny nose, nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing.

* Tracheal problems. Inflammation of the tracheal cartilage can cause difficulty breathing, coughing, and wheezing.

* Aortic problems. Inflammation of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting.

* Kidney problems. Inflammation of the kidneys can cause kidney failure.

* Neurological problems. Inflammation of the nervous system can cause headaches, seizures, and strokes.