The authors describe a case of "relapsing polychondritis" showing that the characteristic manifestation of the disease on nasal and ear cartilage took place at a later stage than in the eye vessels, the inner ear and the trunk and valves of the aorta. The authors therefore consider the term "relapsing polychondritis" to be somewhat restrictive and claim that owing to the systemic diffusion of the disease in all vessels, R.P. should be included among systemic vasculitis diseases.