Familial Mediterranean Fever, Colchicine, and Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive, recurrent, inflammatory disease. Its most important complication is renal amyloidosis which causes nephrotic syndrome and chronic renal disease. Colchicine, a mitosis inhibitor, is first line therapy in FMF. Disease shows a variable progress during pregnancy; the attacks may be aggrevated or may disappear. Colchicine crosses the placenta and, is shown to be teratogenic in some animal studies. But recent trials consider that colchicine is neither teratogenic nor mutagenic for the fetus. However, the risk of miscarriage was found to be increased unless the attacks were not treated. Although, colchicine is a mitotic inhibitor and there is evidence demonstrating its transplacental passage, no increased risk of fetal chromosomal anomalies has been reported in colchicine treated pregnant FMF patients. Therefore, amniocentesis should not be offered on a routine basis. In this case report, the pregnancy course in a patient on colchicine treatment for FMF was presented, and a review of literature was made