Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40784758›Full record

ArticleRMD open2025

Predictive factors for therapeutic response and cluster analysis in syndrome of undifferentiated recurrent fever (SURF).

Serena Palmeri, Marta Ponzano, Giada Recchi, Chiara Conti, Saverio La Bella, Diana Sutera, Marta Bustaffa, Caterina Matucci-Cerinic, Roberta Bertelli, Federica Penco and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in RMD open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Serena PalmeriDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7670-6825
Marta PonzanoDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Giada RecchiRheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Chiara ContiDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Saverio La BellaRheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1244-0789
Diana SuteraRheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Marta BustaffaRheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Caterina Matucci-CerinicDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Roberta BertelliLaboratory of Human Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Federica PencoRheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Ignazia PrigioneRheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Riccardo PapaRheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9626-5470
Isabella CeccheriniLaboratory of Genetics and Genomics of Rare Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Stefano VolpiDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7129-868X
Roberta CaorsiDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0131-7846
Marco GattornoRheumatology and Autoinflammatory Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy marcogattorno@gaslini.org.ORCID 0000-0003-0704-1916

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSyndrome of undifferentiated recurrent fever (SURF) refers to a group of recurrent fevers without a clear monogenic cause. Clinical spectrum, treatment response predictors and management strategies remain unclear.

objectiveThis study aims to longitudinally analyse a homogeneously selected cohort of 101 SURF patients, to identify factors associated with colchicine resistance and to evaluate the efficacy of interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibitors.

methodsPatients were enrolled in the Eurofever Registry, carefully excluding those with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis (PFAPA); familial Mediterranean fever and other known monogenic recurrent fevers. Demographic, clinical and treatment data were analysed to identify predictors of colchicine resistance and define subgroups through cluster analysis.

resultsCommon symptoms included fever, arthralgia, abdominal pain and myalgia, with PFAPA-like features (lymphadenopathy, tonsillitis, oral aphthae) observed in one-third of cases, sporadically. Colchicine efficacy, assessed in 77 patients, revealed complete response in the majority of patients (61%). Univariable analysis identified PFAPA-like features, including aphthous stomatitis (p=0.001), cervical lymphadenopathy (p=0.012) and exudative tonsillitis (p=0.004), as associated with colchicine resistance. Multivariable analysis confirmed aphthous stomatitis as an independent predictor of resistance (p=0.014). Tonsillectomy was ineffective. IL-1 inhibitors (anakinra, canakinumab) were beneficial in refractory cases. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct subgroups with varying symptoms and colchicine responses.

conclusionsThese findings provide new insights into SURF, identifying predictors of colchicine resistance and supporting the efficacy of IL-1 blockade. Cluster analysis suggests the heterogeneity within SURF, reinforcing the need for refined diagnostic criteria and personalised treatment strategies.

Indexed as

ColchicineFeverAdolescentAdultAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedChildCluster AnalysisDrug ResistanceFemaleHumansInterleukin-1Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist ProteinMaleMiddle AgedRecurrenceRegistriesAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedColchicineInterleukin-1Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist ProteinBiological TherapyHereditary Autoinflammatory DiseasesImmune System DiseasesInflammation

Identifiers

PMID40784758
PMCPMC12336599

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.