title: Colchicine as a therapeutic option in periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of colchicine in reducing the frequency of attacks in patients with PFAPA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a 6-month open label, randomized, controlled study among patients with PFAPA who attend the Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic at the Rambam Medical Center in Israel. A total of 18 patients aged4 -11 years (males:females ratio = 11:7) were randomized into a control group (I, 10 children) and a study group (II, 8 children). Group I was followed for 6 months without any intervention, and group II was initially followed for 3 months and was thereafter treated with colchicine for 3 additional months, according to standard regimen. During the 6-month period of the study the patients and their physician recorded all the episodes of PFAPA in a constructed log. DNA analyses for the 5 common FMF mutations in Israel were performed in 17 out of the 18 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of episodes during the first 3 months was similar in both groups (group I 3.2 ± 1.5, group II 4.9 ± 2.3; p ≤ 0.12). Group II had significantly less PFAPA attacks in the second period while on colchicine therapy (4.9 ± 2.3 vs. 1.6 ± 1.2; p ≤ 0.01), in opposition to group I, where no difference in the number of attacks was noted between the first and second period of follow-up (3.2 ± 1.5 vs. 2.7 ± 1.5; p = 0.33). Of the 17 patients tested, 8 were carriers for FMF mutations (2 in group I and 6 in group II).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colchicine prophylaxis seems to be effective in reducing the number of attacks in PFAPA.
authors: Department of Pediatrics B, Meyer Children's Hospital, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; Pediatric Rheumatology Service, Meyer Children's Hospital, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-lsrael Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: yonatanbutbul@gmail.com.
authors: Yonatan
authors: Y
authors: Butbul Aviel
authors: Department of Pediatrics B, Meyer Children's Hospital, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-lsrael Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors: Sameh
authors: S
authors: Tatour
authors: Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-lsrael Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Gershoni Baruch
authors: Department of Pediatrics B, Meyer Children's Hospital, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; Pediatric Rheumatology Service, Meyer Children's Hospital, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-lsrael Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors: Riva
authors: R
authors: Brik
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D003078:Colchicine
keywords: Colchicine; Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, cervical adenitis (PFAPA)