Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors reduce the attack frequency in familial mediterranean Fever.
Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent acute attacks of fever and serositis, and colchicine is the primary treatment. The pathogenesis of the disease has not been fully understood. Resistance to colchicine remains to be a problem in up to 30% of the patients and yet there seems to be no alternative treatment. In this study our objective was to investigate whether a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) could affect the attack frequency and acute phase response in FMF patients who were unresponsive to colchicine. We retrospectively evaluated the hospital files of 11 colchicine-unresponsive FMF patients who had been treated with SSRIs. According to the records and re-evaluation of the patients, the total number of the FMF attacks was calculated before and after the SSRI, adjunct to colchicine. The laboratory values including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and white blood cell counts were also noted before and after the SSRI treatment from their hospital files. The mean attack frequency before adding SSRI to colchicine was 8.09 +/- 3.53 per 6 months, and at the end of this period there was a great decline in the number of mean attack frequency (0.36 +/- 0.50 attacks per 6 months) (p < 0.001). Acute phase reactants were significantly decreased after SSRI treatment (p < 0.001). All of the colchicine-unresponsive patients had depression and 3 of those patients also had fibromyalgia. SSRIs appear to be useful adjuncts in the management of FMF patients who continue to have attacks despite regular colchicine treatment.
Onat
Ahmet Mesut
AM
Department of Rheumatology, Gaziantep University Hospitals, Mavi C 11/1, Sahinbey, Gaziantep, Turkey. mesutonat@yahoo.com
Oztürk
Mehmet Akif
MA
Ozçakar
Levent
L
Ureten
Kemal
K
Kaymak
Semra Ulusoy
SU
Kiraz
Sedat
S
Ertenli
Ihsan
I
Calgüneri
Meral
M
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001799:Blood Sedimentation / Q000187:drug effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003078:Colchicine; D005340:Fibrinogen; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors