Familial Mediterranean fever successfully treated with etanercept

A Mor, MH Pillinger, M Kishimoto… - JCR: Journal of …, 2007 - journals.lww.com
A Mor, MH Pillinger, M Kishimoto, AM Abeles, A Livneh
JCR: Journal of Clinical Rheumatology, 2007journals.lww.com
Colchicine is the only drug known to effectively prevent familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)
attacks, as well as FMF-associated amyloidosis. Unfortunately, colchicine is neither always
effective nor always well tolerated, leaving some patients and their physicians with
inadequate weaponry to fight this hazardous disease. We present a patient with recurrent
episodes of abdominal, scrotal, and joint attacks, who was diagnosed with FMF and advised
to take colchicine. Diarrhea prevented optimal treatment with this drug and led to a trial of …
Abstract
Colchicine is the only drug known to effectively prevent familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) attacks, as well as FMF-associated amyloidosis. Unfortunately, colchicine is neither always effective nor always well tolerated, leaving some patients and their physicians with inadequate weaponry to fight this hazardous disease. We present a patient with recurrent episodes of abdominal, scrotal, and joint attacks, who was diagnosed with FMF and advised to take colchicine. Diarrhea prevented optimal treatment with this drug and led to a trial of etanercept, with resolution of FMF manifestations. This case adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockade may result in resolution and prevention of further FMF attacks.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins