Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Affects the Responsiveness to Colchicine in Familial Mediterranean Fever

Objective. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease due to a MEFV gene mutation. Since Helicobacter pylori infection has been described to increase the severity and frequency of FMF attacks, we evaluate if overgrowth of small intestinal bacterial (SIBO), associated with a...

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Main Authors: E. Verrecchia, L. L. Sicignano, M. La Regina, G. Nucera, I. Patisso, L. Cerrito, M. Montalto, A. Gasbarrini, R. Manna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Mediators of Inflammation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7461426
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author E. Verrecchia
L. L. Sicignano
M. La Regina
G. Nucera
I. Patisso
L. Cerrito
M. Montalto
A. Gasbarrini
R. Manna
author_facet E. Verrecchia
L. L. Sicignano
M. La Regina
G. Nucera
I. Patisso
L. Cerrito
M. Montalto
A. Gasbarrini
R. Manna
author_sort E. Verrecchia
collection DOAJ
description Objective. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease due to a MEFV gene mutation. Since Helicobacter pylori infection has been described to increase the severity and frequency of FMF attacks, we evaluate if overgrowth of small intestinal bacterial (SIBO), associated with a release of bacterial products, can affect the response to colchicine in FMF patients poorly responsive to colchicine. Methods. We revised our Periodic Fever Centre database to detect FMF patients who were poorly responsive to colchicine, without a well-defined cause of drug resistance. They were evaluated for SIBO presence, then treated with decontamination therapy. Results. Among 223 FMF patients, 49 subjects show colchicine resistance, and no other known causes of colchicine unresponsiveness has been found in 25 patients. All 25 patients underwent glucose breath test; 20 (80%) of them were positive, thus affected by SIBO. After a successful decontamination treatment, 11 patients (55%) did not show FMF attacks during the following three months (p<0.01), while 9 of them revealed a significant reduction of the number of attacks compared to three months before (p<0.01). Conclusion. The SIBO eradication improves laboratory and clinical features of FMF patients. Thus, patients with unresponsiveness to colchicine treatment should be investigated for SIBO.
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spelling doaj-art-e4d6c35821dd4661bce648823e64821b2025-08-20T02:21:18ZengWileyMediators of Inflammation0962-93511466-18612017-01-01201710.1155/2017/74614267461426Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Affects the Responsiveness to Colchicine in Familial Mediterranean FeverE. Verrecchia0L. L. Sicignano1M. La Regina2G. Nucera3I. Patisso4L. Cerrito5M. Montalto6A. Gasbarrini7R. Manna8Periodic Fever Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Policlinico Gemelli Foundation, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyPeriodic Fever Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Policlinico Gemelli Foundation, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyPeriodic Fever Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Policlinico Gemelli Foundation, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyPeriodic Fever Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Policlinico Gemelli Foundation, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyPeriodic Fever Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Policlinico Gemelli Foundation, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyPeriodic Fever Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Policlinico Gemelli Foundation, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyPeriodic Fever Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Policlinico Gemelli Foundation, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyPeriodic Fever Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Policlinico Gemelli Foundation, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyPeriodic Fever Research Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Policlinico Gemelli Foundation, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, ItalyObjective. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease due to a MEFV gene mutation. Since Helicobacter pylori infection has been described to increase the severity and frequency of FMF attacks, we evaluate if overgrowth of small intestinal bacterial (SIBO), associated with a release of bacterial products, can affect the response to colchicine in FMF patients poorly responsive to colchicine. Methods. We revised our Periodic Fever Centre database to detect FMF patients who were poorly responsive to colchicine, without a well-defined cause of drug resistance. They were evaluated for SIBO presence, then treated with decontamination therapy. Results. Among 223 FMF patients, 49 subjects show colchicine resistance, and no other known causes of colchicine unresponsiveness has been found in 25 patients. All 25 patients underwent glucose breath test; 20 (80%) of them were positive, thus affected by SIBO. After a successful decontamination treatment, 11 patients (55%) did not show FMF attacks during the following three months (p<0.01), while 9 of them revealed a significant reduction of the number of attacks compared to three months before (p<0.01). Conclusion. The SIBO eradication improves laboratory and clinical features of FMF patients. Thus, patients with unresponsiveness to colchicine treatment should be investigated for SIBO.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7461426
spellingShingle E. Verrecchia
L. L. Sicignano
M. La Regina
G. Nucera
I. Patisso
L. Cerrito
M. Montalto
A. Gasbarrini
R. Manna
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Affects the Responsiveness to Colchicine in Familial Mediterranean Fever
Mediators of Inflammation
title Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Affects the Responsiveness to Colchicine in Familial Mediterranean Fever
title_full Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Affects the Responsiveness to Colchicine in Familial Mediterranean Fever
title_fullStr Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Affects the Responsiveness to Colchicine in Familial Mediterranean Fever
title_full_unstemmed Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Affects the Responsiveness to Colchicine in Familial Mediterranean Fever
title_short Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Affects the Responsiveness to Colchicine in Familial Mediterranean Fever
title_sort small intestinal bacterial overgrowth affects the responsiveness to colchicine in familial mediterranean fever
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7461426
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