Felty's Syndrome Detailed Information

Felty's Syndrome is a complication of rheumatoid arthritis. Felty's syndrome is uncommon. It affects less than 1% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. People with this syndrome are at risk of infection because they have a low white blood cell import. Felty's Syndrome is associated with the HLA-DR4 genotype. This genotype is a marker for more aggressive RA with greater extra-articular manifestations.  Felty syndrome rarely occurs in children. The prevalence of Felty syndrome may be decreasing with the advent of more potent antirheumatic agents.

It appears to be silent rare in the African American population. Felty syndrome most frequently occurs in whites and infrequently occurs in blacks. This is especially really in patients with Felty's syndrome that have antibodies against the particular type of white blood cells generally affected (cells called granulocytes or neutrophils). Many patients with Felty's syndrome have more infections, such as pneumonia or skin infections, than the average person. This increased susceptibility to infections is attributed to the low white blood counts that are characteristic of Felty's syndrome.

Felty’s syndrome normally develops in people in their 50s, 60s and 70s who have had RS for more than ten years. FS is rarely found in children. Patients with Felty's syndrome can have more infections than the average person and can occur leg ulcers. Felty's syndrome (FS) symptoms may involve a general feeling of pain or “malaise” fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss, a pale colour, recurrent infections and eye burning and/or discharge. People with FS will also typically experience joint swelling, stiffness, pain and deformity, but these symptoms will likely be due to the rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment of Felty’s syndrome is a likely of rheumatoid arthritis. They may require additional medicines to subdue their immune system. Etanercept, adalimumab, and infliximab are all newer agents prescribed for RA. Splenectomy is only recommended for patients with ascetic intractable disease who exhibit no improvement with medical therapy and experience recurrent or serious infection. In general, people with FS should maintain their health as best as they can. Washing hands thoroughly and frequently also helps to prevent infection.