Renal, gastric and thyroidal amyloidosis due to familial Mediterranean fever

Abstract.

Chronic renal failure developed in a 10-year-old girl due to renal amyloidosis secondary to familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). During management of the chronic renal failure by hemodialysis and of FMF with colchicine, goiter and hypothroidism were observed. Thyroid fine-needle aspiration and gastric endoscopical biopsies, performed when recurrent abdominal pain could not be controlled, revealed amyloid deposits in both thyroid and gastric tissues. After 6 months’ therapy with colchicine and levothyroxine, there was no significant change in the thyroid volume. This is the first case in which gastric amyloidosis secondary to FMF in childhood has been demonstrated. Patients with amyloidosis secondary to FMF who have thyroid enlargement and unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms despite adequate therapy should be evaluated with imaging studies and biopsy examinations.