Pregnancy outcomes in women with familial Mediterranean fever receiving colchicine: is amniocentesis justified?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcome of pregnancies in women with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) who are taking colchicine, and to reconsider the justification for amniocentesis in these women.


METHODS
The outcome of 179 pregnancies in a group of women with FMF taking colchicine was compared with the outcome of 197 pregnancies in women with FMF who did not take colchicine during pregnancy and with 312 pregnancies in another cohort of healthy pregnant women of similar age and ethnicity.


RESULTS
There was no difference in the 3 groups regarding early abortions, late abortions, or congenital malformations. There was a mild trend towards a better outcome for the colchicine-treated group but these results did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with colchicine during pregnancy in patients with FMF is beneficial in controlling the disease while not affecting the outcome of the pregnancy; therefore there is no justification for recommending amniocentesis in women taking colchicine solely because of this treatment.
Ben-Chetrit
Eli
E
Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. eldad@hadassah.org.il
Ben-Chetrit
Avraham
A
Berkun
Yackov
Y
Ben-Chetrit
Eldad
E
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003078:Colchicine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures; D055815:Young Adult
D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D003078:Colchicine