What is PFAPA syndrome? Genetic clues about the pathogenesis
1Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Insights
Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is a complex genetic disorder. New research links PFAPA to Behçet's disease and identifies genetic factors influencing treatment response.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is the most prevalent periodic fever disorder in children.
- Recent research has identified genetic susceptibility variants associated with PFAPA syndrome.
Conclusions:
- PFAPA phenotypes are heterogeneous, influenced by shared genetic susceptibility and therapeutic responses.
- Understanding the genetic architecture of PFAPA and related conditions is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
- These findings necessitate a re-evaluation of PFAPA diagnostic criteria and classification.
Purpose Of Review:
Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is the most common periodic fever syndrome in childhood. Recent studies report genetic susceptibility variants for PFAPA syndrome and the efficacy of tonsillectomy in a broader cohort of patients with recurrent stereotypical fever. In this review, we highlight the findings of these studies and what they may reveal about the pathogenesis of PFAPA.
Recent Findings:
Newly identified genetic susceptibility loci for PFAPA suggest that it is a complex genetic disorder linked to Behçet's disease and recurrent aphthous ulcers. Patients who have PFAPA with some features of Behçet's disease have been reported. Moreover, the efficacy of tonsillectomy has now been described in patients who do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for PFAPA, although the immunologic profile in the tonsils is different from those with PFAPA. Factors that predict response to tonsillectomy are also reported.
Summary:
These findings highlight the heterogeneous phenotypes that may be related to PFAPA due to common genetic susceptibility or response to therapy. These relationships raise questions about how to define PFAPA and highlight the importance of understanding of the genetic architecture of PFAPA and related diseases.
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