Severity scores, damage indices, and the concept of the colchicine-resistant patient in familial Mediterranean fever

Abstract

Familial Mediterranean fever is a common autoinflammatory disease. The primary treatment is colchicine; however, 5-10% of patients do not respond to colchicine and are considered colchicine resistant. Colchicine resistance and disease severity are highly associated, with each used to assess and define the other. In our review, we examined the most commonly used severity scores, damage indices, and definitions of colchicine resistance, revealing both shortcomings and advantages for each. We emphasize the necessity for a new severity score that integrates the definition of colchicine resistance.

Keywords: Familial Mediterranean fever; colchicine resistance; damage index; severity scores.