Familial Mediterranean fever patients with prominent musculoskeletal symptoms may be classified in a distinct subgroup

Abstract

Some of Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients suffer from several different musculoskeletal symptoms similar to spondyloarthropathy. Colchicine is generally ineffective in treating these symptoms, unlike its effects on serositis. Therefore, these patients can be classified into a different disease class: The musculoskeletal variant of FMF. Additionally, studies should be conducted on these patients to evaluate both the disease characteristics of this subgroup and treatment options for the variant.