Acute Recurrent Pericarditis as the Inaugural Manifestation of Familial Mediterranean Fever

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder commonly found among individuals of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern descent and caused by Mediterranean Fever gene (MEFV) mutations on chromosome 16. It is the most frequent periodic febrile syndrome among the autoinflammatory syndromes. Typical febrile attacks include serosal inflammation, but although FMF is characterized by recurrent polyserositis, there is a little documentation of pericardial disease among patients. We report the case of a patient who presented recurrent pericarditis. Each episode occurred with a high fever and elevation of the C-reactive protein level. Treatment with colchicine was effective. The patient was found to be heterozygous for the V726A mutation.

The aetiology of recurrent pericarditis is still largely unknown.The occurrence of pericarditis as a manifestation of familial Mediterranean fever is controversial.