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A comparison of clinical findings of familial Mediterranean fever patients with and without amyloidosis

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Abstract

Objective

This study investigates the clinical and demographic characteristics of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients with and without amyloidosis.

Patients and methods

The clinical data of 503 patients with FMF (females:males 250:253) were reviewed. Fifty of these patients had amyloidosis (f:m 23:27).

Results

The ages of attack onset in patients with and without amyloidosis were 7.8±6.2 and 11.1±8.5, respectively (P<0.05). The time between disease onset and diagnosis was longer in patients with amyloidosis than those without (187.6±99.4 months and 132.5±110.2 months, respectively, P<0.001). More patients in the amyloidosis group had positive family histories of FMF (68% vs 54%, P<0.05). The frequencies of chest pain (78% vs 51%, P<0.001), arthritis ( 80% vs 60%, P<0.01), and erysipelas-like erythema (44% vs 16%, P<0.001) were higher in the amyloidosis group.

Conclusion

In the amyloidosis group, FMF-related manifestations of chest pain, arthritis, and erysipelas-like erythema are more frequent. Our results also support that long periods between disease onset and diagnosis are associated with a high risk of developing amyloidosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Division of Internal Medicine, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ayse Cefle, Murat Inanc, Lale Ocal, Orhan Aral, Meral Konice & Ahmet Gul

  2. Inonu Caddesi, Camlik Park Sokak, Koru Apt. 2/31, Sahrayicedit 34734, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ayse Cefle

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  1. Ayse Cefle
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  2. Sevıl Kamali
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  3. Mehmet Sayarlioglu
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  4. Murat Inanc
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  5. Lale Ocal
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  8. Ahmet Gul
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Correspondence to Ayse Cefle.

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Cefle, A., Kamali, S., Sayarlioglu, M. et al. A comparison of clinical findings of familial Mediterranean fever patients with and without amyloidosis. Rheumatol Int 25, 442–446 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-004-0471-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-004-0471-z

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