INTERLEUKIN 1 INHIBITORS--A NEW HORIZON IN THE TREATMENT OF FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a common genetic auto-inflammatory disease in the Middle Eastern population. Colchicine is the only proven treatment for the prevention of FMF attacks and reactive amyloidosis. However, 5-10% of FMF patients do not respond to colchicine, and an additional 5% are intolerant to it. Progress in the understanding of FMF and the recognition of the central role of IL-1 in its pathophysiology has led to the introduction of IL-1 inhibitors in FMF patients who are unresponsive to colchicine. In this paperwe review the clinical experience gained with IL-1 inhibitors in FMF. Overall, it appears that IL-1 inhibitors are safe and may serve as an alternative in FMF patients resistant to colchicine.