Efficacy of anti-interleukin-1 treatment in colchicine-resistant arthritis in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

objectiveIn the familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) clinic, arthritis is among the most common symptoms, and it generally responds well to colchicine treatment. However, cases of patients with chronic prolonged colchicine-resistant arthritis have been reported, and there are inadequate studies on the treatments to be used for such patients.

methodsThis study included 18 patients diagnosed with FMF who had colchicine-resistant chronic arthritis and received anti-interleukin (IL)-1 treatment for at least 1 year. The clinical and laboratory data of the patients were retrospectively retrieved from the database of our hospital.

resultsRemission was achieved in arthritis attacks in 16 of 18 patients who started anti-IL-1 therapy because of colchicine-resistant chronic arthritis. The clinical and laboratory values of the other 2 patients improved, but complete remission could not be achieved. The treatment dose of colchicine was reduced with anti-IL-1 therapy. In addition to the improvement in arthritis symptoms, remission was achieved in other clinical findings of FMF by anti-IL-1 therapy. In this study, with an average follow-up time of 33 months, no adverse effects requiring discontinuation were observed in any patient.

conclusionAnti-IL-1 therapy is effective and reliable in the treatment of colchicine-resistant chronic FMF arthritis. The efficacy of anti-IL-1 therapy was realized without concomitant disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy, despite the reduction in colchicine dose.