- Felty's syndrome.

Felty's syndrome

*DeF:- It is a disorder characterized by the combination of rheumatoid arthritis, splenomegaly,neutropenia and repeated infections.
*It occurs in 5% of adult.

*Clinical picture:-

• Skin pigmentation and generalized lymphadenopathy.
• Splenomegaly.
• Hepatomegaly.
• Highly erosive and deforming arthiritis.
• L.E cells are +ve.
• Neutropenia so increase liability to certain infections.
• Fever, weight loss, and/or fatigue.

*Complications:-

• Recurrent serous Infections.
• Hypersplenism causing anaemia and thrombocytopenia.
• Lymphadenopathy.
• Skin hyperpigmentation and cutaneous ulceration.

*Investigations:-

• A complete blood count ( CBC) may show Neutropenia.
• Biochemical investigations of Rheumatoid arthritis(RF,ANA,LE).
• An abdominal ultrasound may confirm a swollen spleen.

*Treatment:-

• The best treatment for Felty's syndrome is to control the underlying RA, Immunosuppressive therapy for RA often improves granulocytopenia and splenomegaly.
• Treatment of infections.
• Splenectomy(removal of the spleen)may improve neutropenia in severe cases.
   
  Dr Ibrahim
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