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The McAdam criteria is a tool designed to help diagnose relapsing polychondritis, a condition affecting cartilage throughout the body. It incorporates six key clinical features, each evaluated for their presence in an individual. For each feature that is present, a score of 1 is assigned. The features assessed are:

- Bilateral auricular chondritis
- Nonerosive seronegative inflammatory polyarthritis
- Nasal chondritis
- Ocular inflammation
- Respiratory tract chondritis
- Audiovestibular damage

These features act as yes-or-no questions, where "yes" indicates the presence of the condition, contributing a point to the total score. 

To compute the score, you tally the number of features present, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 6. This score aids in the interpretation which determines if the diagnostic criteria for relapsing polychondritis are met:

- A score of 3 or higher signifies that the "Diagnostic criteria are met," meaning the symptoms sufficiently align with the condition.
- Conversely, a score of less than 3 indicates that the "Diagnostic criteria are not met," suggesting that the symptoms do not strongly suggest relapsing polychondritis.

The McAdam criteria is a clinical calculator used for the diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis, a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation and deterioration of cartilage. This calculator is applicable to patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of relapsing polychondritis, such as pain, redness, swelling, and tenderness in various parts of the body where cartilage is present.

The McAdam criteria is clinically useful in guiding the diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis. It requires the presence of at least three of the six criteria: recurrent chondritis of both auricles, non-erosive inflammatory polyarthritis, chondritis of nasal cartilages, ocular inflammation, respiratory tract chondritis, and audio-vestibular damage.

Exclusion criteria for the use of this calculator include the presence of other conditions that can mimic relapsing polychondritis, such as Wegener's granulomatosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, it is important to rule out these conditions before applying the McAdam criteria.

McAdam criteria for relapsing polychondritis

This calculator evaluates the likelihood of relapsing polychondritis by analyzing three specific criteria and assigning scores to each based on predefined values. The scoring involves:

- McAdam criteria: Each selected condition, such as Bilateral auricular chondritis, Nasal chondritis, Nonerosive seronegative inflammatory polyarthritis, Ocular inflammation, Respiratory tract chondritis, or Audiovestibular damage, contributes 1 point. You can select one or more of these conditions.
- Histologic confirmation: If histological confirmation is present, it adds 2 points; if absent, it adds 0 points.
- Response to treatment: A positive response to corticosteroids or dapsone adds 1 point, while no response adds 0 points.

The score is determined by summing up points from selected criteria, histologic evidence, and response to treatment. The maximum possible score is 4, achievable through combining multiple criteria with histologic evidence and treatment response.

Interpretation of the score is straightforward:

- A score of 3 or higher indicates "Diagnostic criteria are met," suggesting a strong likelihood of relapsing polychondritis.
- A score below 3 indicates "Diagnostic criteria are not met," implying a lower likelihood of the condition being present.

This system aids in diagnosing relapsing polychondritis by systematically evaluating and scoring key diagnostic criteria.

The Damiani and Levine criteria is a clinical calculator used for the diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis, a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation and deterioration of cartilage. This calculator is applicable to patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of relapsing polychondritis, such as pain, redness, swelling, and tenderness in various parts of the body where cartilage is present.

The Damiani and Levine criteria is clinically useful in guiding the diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis, which can be challenging due to its rarity and the wide range of clinical manifestations. The criteria include specific clinical features such as auricular chondritis, nasal chondritis, ocular inflammation, respiratory tract chondritis, and audiovestibular damage. 

There are no specific exclusion criteria for the use of the Damiani and Levine criteria. However, it should be noted that the criteria should be used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools and clinical judgment, as the presence of these features alone does not confirm the diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis. Other conditions that can mimic relapsing polychondritis should also be ruled out.

Relapsing polychondritis

Guidelines

Key sources