Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disease which often presents firstly to ear, nose and throat (ENT) departments. Its complications, respiratory, cardiovascular, renal and neurological are life-threatening; thus it is important to recognize the disease and its complications early. Treatment for relapsing polychondritis may have serious side-effects which should be taken into account when managing these patients. We report two young patients with relapsing polychondritis and their treatments; both had severe tracheal stenosis responding in one case to pharmacological and in the other to surgical intervention.

Two cases of laryngo-tracheo-bronchopathia chondro-osteoplastica (LTBCOP) are discussed regarding the pathogenesis of the disease. Our observations support the belief that chronic irritation of the perichondrium in the region of subglottis, trachea and bronchi plays an important role in the aetiology of this disease.