A Case of Familial Mediterranean Fever with Erythema Nodosum

Abstract

A 38-year-old woman presented with a 20-year history of recurrent abdominal pain accompanied with fever lasting for a week. She had experienced diarrhea, followed by knee pain, ankle pain, wrist pain, and painful eruptions in the lower extremities. A dermatological examination revealed tender, reddish nodules on her lower extremities and the dorsa of both wrists. A histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of erythema nodosum. The patient and her father, brother and sister were diagnosed with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) based on a genetic examination 11 years ago. Erythema nodosum and joint pain reduced after the oral administration of colchicine. Autoinflammatory diseases, including FMF, are important differential diagnoses that should be considered as the underlying cause of urticarial, nodular, or erythematous skin lesions. The early diagnosis and treatment of FMF by colchicine administration are thought to be important in preventing the onset of amyloidosis, which is related to the prognosis of FMF.