Felty's syndrome

Swan neck deformity in a 65 year old Rheumatoid Arthritis patient- 2014-05-27 01-49

Felty's syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder that is characterized by the triad of rheumatoid arthritis, an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), and a decreased white blood cell count (neutropenia). This condition is considered a severe subset of rheumatoid arthritis and can lead to increased susceptibility to infections.

Signs and Symptoms

The primary symptoms of Felty's syndrome include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis: Chronic inflammation of the joints, leading to pain, swelling, and potential joint deformity.
• Splenomegaly: Enlargement of the spleen, which can cause discomfort or pain in the upper left abdomen.
• Neutropenia: A lower than normal count of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps fight infections, leading to increased risk of infections.

Other symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Anemia
• Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes)

Causes

The exact cause of Felty's syndrome is unknown, but it is believed to be related to the autoimmune nature of rheumatoid arthritis. Genetic factors and environmental triggers may also play a role in the development of the syndrome.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Felty's syndrome typically involves:

• Clinical evaluation of symptoms
• Blood tests to check for neutropenia and other abnormalities
• Imaging studies such as ultrasound or CT scan to assess spleen size
• Bone marrow biopsy in some cases to rule out other causes of neutropenia

Treatment

Treatment for Felty's syndrome focuses on managing the symptoms and underlying rheumatoid arthritis. Common treatments include:

• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate or sulfasalazine
• Biologic response modifiers like etanercept or infliximab
• Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
• Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to increase white blood cell count
• Splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen) in severe cases

Prognosis

The prognosis for individuals with Felty's syndrome varies. With appropriate treatment, many patients can manage their symptoms effectively. However, the condition can lead to serious complications, including recurrent infections and increased risk of lymphoma.

Related Pages

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Autoimmune disease
• Neutropenia
• Splenomegaly
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
• Biologic response modifiers

Rheumatologic diseases

Arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. Rheumatic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Rheumatologic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles.

Connective Tissue Diseases

Rheumatology and	Connective Tissue Diseases
Ankylosing spondylitis	Arthritis
Arthritis and Rheumatic diseases	Autoimmune diseases
Autoinflammatory diseases	Behçet’s disease
Bursitis	Giant cell arteritis
Gout	Juvenile arthritis
Knee problems	Lupus
Osteoarthritis	Polymyalgia rheumatica
Psoriatic arthritis	Reactive arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis	Scleroderma
Sjögren’s syndrome	Systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus)
Tendinitis	Rheumatologic diseases