s34_ab8

The efficacy of continuous interferon alpha administration as an adjunctive agent to colchicine-resistant familial Mediterranean fever patients

M. Calguneri, S. Apras, Z. Ozbalkan, M.A. Ozturk, I. Ertenli, S. Kiraz

Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

ABSTRACT
Objective
About 10-20% of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients are resistant to regular colchicine treatment and have painful recurrent attacks due to polyserositis. In clinical practice there is no alternative drug for such patients. In a previous pilot study on a small number of colchicine-resistant patients, interferon-alpha (IFN-a) was administered when painful attacks were about to occur.

Methods
In this study we gave IFN-a continuously to 8 colchicine-resistant FMF patients in a schedule while the colchicine therapy had been continued. All those patients were complicated with vasculitis or arthritis or together during the FMF course. Those complications were treated with the other immunosuppressive drugs. While they were under intense immunosuppressive therapy, the abdominal and the other serosal attacks remained to continue.

Results
After the administration of IFN-a therapy only one out of eight patients had abdominal painful attacks in twice, and one patient had arthritis in knees and ankles, the others responded well. Observed side effects were generally mild and acceptable.

Conclusion
Continuous IFN administration in addition to the regular colchicine treatment may be useful for the colchicine-resistant attacks in FMF patients.

Key words
Familial Mediterranean fever, colchicine, resistance, interferon alpha.

The preliminary results of this study were presented at the FMF Congress 2002 Montpellier, France.
Please address correspondance to: Zeynep Ozbalkan, MD, Sehit Cetin Gorgu Sok., Ugur Apt. 17/3, 06570 Maltepe, Ankara, Turkey.
E-mail: zaslar@hotmail.com