COVID-19 in patients with familial Mediterranean fever treated with colchicine: case based review

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) refers to the clinical picture of an important and severe infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Considering the current knowledge on the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of COVID-19, it is safe to state that both COVID-19 and inflammatory rheumatic disorders cause a cytokine storm and merit treatment with anti-rheumatic drugs. Three patients, who were on regular follow-up due to the diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), contracted COVID-19 infection; and their pre-clinical and post-clinical data as well as laboratory, prognosis and treatment data were investigated. Effects of colchicine in FMF patients who contracted COVID-19 infection were presented in this study. All the cases recovered from COVID-19 without complications. The present study suggests that colchicine can positively affect the prognosis of COVID-19 in FMF patients; therefore, experience of rheumatologists in the use of anti-inflammatory drugs can be highly instrumental in management of COVID-19 patients.

Automated summary

COVID-19 and inflammatory rheumatic disorders both lead to a cytokine storm and can be treated with anti-rheumatic drugs. Colchicine may have a positive impact on the prognosis of COVID-19 in FMF patients, highlighting the importance of rheumatologists' experience in managing COVID-19 patients with anti-inflammatory drugs.