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Twenty-three adults (11 males and 12 females) with well-defined relapsing polychondritis (RP) are studied in order to characterize the arthropathy of RP. Arthritis was found in 19 patients-as the presenting feature in 8 and as a significant symptom in 11 others. The usual pattern of involvement was migratory, asymmetric, nonnodular, nonerosive, and seronegative, and affected large and small joints as well as parasternal articulations. In addition RP was seen in 3 patients with preexisting chronic polyarthritis or associated rheumatic disease.Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare rheumatic disorder consisting of an episodic, occasionally progressive, inflammation and degeneration of cartilaginous structures, and of inflammation of special sense organs including the eye and ear. A recent review by the authors documented 159 cases reported in the world From the