Efficacy and safety of anti-interleukin-1 treatment in familial Mediterranean fever patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This article systematically reviews and meta-analyzes the efficacy and safety of anti-interleukin-1 (anti-IL-1) agents—specifically anakinra, canakinumab, and rilonacept—in treating familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), a hereditary autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent fever and inflammation. The analysis of 44 studies involving 1,399 adult and pediatric FMF patients found that anti-IL-1 therapies led to complete remission in 60% of adults and 81% of children, significantly reduced inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and decreased disease activity scores. Adverse events occurred in 25% of adults and 12% of pediatric patients, mostly mild injection-site reactions, with serious adverse events being rare. The review concludes that anti-IL-1 agents are effective and generally well-tolerated treatment options for colchicine-resistant or -intolerant FMF patients, though further randomized controlled trials are needed to strengthen the evidence base.