HLA-B27-Negative Sacroiliitis: A Manifestation of Familial Mediterranean Fever in Childhood

Abstract

Familial Mediterranean fever is a polysystemic disease seen most frequently in persons of Mediterranean ancestry. Arthritis is 1 of the common manifestations. Symptomatic and asymptomatic sacroiliitis were reported in adults. Two children were reported with familial Mediterranean fever with radiographic abnormalities similar to those described in adults. Although sacroiliitis is strongly correlated with the presence of HLA-B27 in most arthropathies, these children were HLA-B27-negative. The diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever was delayed in both patients because the association of sacroiliitis with familial Mediterranean fever in childhood was not recognized.