Constrictive pericarditis in familial Mediterranean fever

Fibrosing peritonitis and constrictive pericarditis occurred in an 18-year-old patient who manifested the classic features of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Pericardial calcification had been present in chest X-rays taken when the patient was and lymphoid years old. Intermittent intestinal obstruction and congestive heart failure were relieved by appropriate surgical intervention, but attacks of FMF subsided only after colchicine therapy. This is the first instance of nonuremic pericarditis in their experience with over 1,000 FMF patients. Critical analysis of the reported cases in which pericarditis was attributed to FMF strengthens their belief that the occurrence of pericarditis in a patient with FMF probably represents a fortuitous intercurrent disease.