The efficacy of canakinumab in the treatment of a patient with familial Mediterranean fever and longstanding destructive arthritis

Self-limited, non-destructive arthritis is a common clinical presentation of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), while protracted, refractory to standard treatment arthritis is a rare manifestation of the disease, potentially resulting in severe damage and disability. 1 - 3 We report on a 25-year-old woman with FMF, homozygous for the MEFV gene M694V mutation, and with longstanding articular involvement affecting her hips and her left knee, effectively treated with canakinumab. Long-term remission was not achieved, as indicated by the clinical findings and the elevated inflammatory parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP)) during the follow-up period.