Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of relapsing polychondritis(RP)patients presented with arthropathy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 201 RP patients who were hospitalized in our center between December 2005 and February 2019.After 16 patients with co-existing other autoimmune diseases and malignancies were ruled out,185 RP patients entered the final analysis,among whom 16 RP patients were presented with arthropathy and 169 without arthropathy.The demographic data,clinical manifestations,laboratory findings,and prognosis were compared between these two groups. Results Five of the 16 RP patients with arthropathy at presentation were misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis.Compared with RP patients without arthropathy at presentation,RP patients with arthropathy at presentation had a longer disease course[(37.50±66.50)months vs.(9.00±11.00)months,z=-3.186,P =0.001],longer time of diagnostic delay[(24.00±41.25)months vs.(7.00±9.00)months,z=-2.890,P=0.004],and higher incidence of eye(62.50% vs. 36.09%,χ2=4.309,P=0.038)and nervous system involvements(43.75% vs. 15.38%,χ2=6.205,P=0.013). Conclusions RP patients with arthropathy at presentation are most likely to be misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis.These patients are characterized by longer disease course and diagnostic delay and more frequrent eye and nervous system involvements.