ABSTRACT

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary inflammatory disease characterized by sporadic, self-limited recurrent attacks of fever and serositis. The most important long-term complication is AA amyloidosis , principally affecting the kidney and may cause chronic renal failure. Regular prophylactic treatment with colchicine at a dose of 1-2 mg daily prevents or substantially reduces the clinical manifestations of FMF in at least 90%of cases. However, approximately 10%of patients are reported to be resistant or non-responsive to colchicine and there is no consensus which second line agents should be used. Colchicine is the treatment of choice in FMF for the prevention of both attacks and secondary amyloidosis.