title: Successful treatment of nephrotic syndrome due to FMF amyloidosis with azathioprine: report of three Turkish cases.
abstract: Secondary amyloidosis is a well-known complication of certain familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). We presented three Turkish patients with FMF and biopsy proven amyloidosis. These patients were treated with colchicine 1.5 mg/day. They have experienced five to six peritonitis attacks with fever within 1 year. On admission, the laboratory test results were as follows: serum creatinine 2.3, 0.6, and 0.5 mg/dl; albumin 4.2, 1.9, and 1.8 g/dl; and urinary protein excretion 4, 15, and 10 g/day, respectively. All the patients were started azathioprine (AZA) 100 mg/day and attacks were completely stopped. Laboratory findings were as follows after 1 year of AZA treatment: serum creatinine 1, 0.8, and 0.6 mg/dl; albumin 4.3, 3, and 3.5 g/dl; and urinary protein excretion 3, 8, and 1.5 g/day, respectively. Treatment with azathioprine in addition to colchicine could ameliorate the nephrotic syndrome and control the attacks very effectively in these cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Sutcu Imam University, Medical Faculty, Iç Hastaliklari A.D., Nefroloji B.D., Kahramanmaras, 46050, Turkey. hayriyesayarlioglu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hayriye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sayarlioglu
authors.forename: Reha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erkoc
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sayarlioglu
authors.forename: Ekrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Soyoral
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001379:Azathioprine; D003078:Colchicine