Atypical type of familial Mediterranean fever: An underdiagnosed cause of chronic aseptic meningitis

Abstract

Abstract We report an atypical case of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) concomitant with chronic aseptic meningitis. The patient experienced fever, abdominal and back pain because of serositis, and headache because of aseptic meningitis for 4 weeks. Blood examinations revealed increased white blood cells and serum amyloid A level. Medications, including steroids, did not improve his symptoms. However, the patient experienced immediate relief after the administration of colchicine. We diagnosed him as having atypical FMF based on the symptoms, especially positive response to colchicine, and heterozygous mutations on exon2 and 5 (E148Q/S503C) in MEFV gene. Unlike typical FMF, a cause of recurrent aseptic meningitis, atypical FMF might be an underdiagnosed cause of chronic aseptic meningitis.