Coexistence of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Familial Mediterrean Fever: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is the most prevalent monogenic autoinflammatory disease characterized by clinical features of recurrent episodes of fever, leukocitosis, serositis, myalgia, erysipelas-like skin lesions, lasting 12-72 hours. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease. The most prominent feature is symmetrical pain and swelling of the hands, wrists, feet, and knees. The exact mechanisms underlying the coexistence of FMF and RA has not been reported previously. So far, only 8 cases of the coexistence of FMF and RA have been reported. In this report, we aimed to explain the association between FMF and RA and report one more case of this coexistence.