Familial Mediterranean fever successfully treated with etanercept.
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.
Mor
Adam
A
Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, New York University School of Medicine/Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY 10003, USA. mora01@med.nyu.edu
Pillinger
Michael H
MH
Kishimoto
Mitsumasa
M
Abeles
Aryeh M
AM
Livneh
Avi
A
D000328:Adult; D000068800:Etanercept; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068800:Etanercept