Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

A case of colchicine-responsive Mollaret's meningitis with MEFV gene mutation

Tomomi Kinohshita, M.D.1), Akira Matsushima, M.D.1), Shunichi Satoh, M.D., Ph.D.1), Kenichi Hoshi, M.D., Ph.D.1), Dai Kishida, M.D.2) and Hiroyuki Yahikozawa, M.D., Ph.D.1)

1)Department of Neurology, Nagano Red-cross Hospital
2)Department of Medicine (Neurology and Rheumatology), Shinshu University School of Medicine

A 66-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with recurrent meningitis. She presented with 10 episodes of meningitis in 10 months. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid demonstrated pleocytosis, with neutrophils dominant at the early stage, and lymphocytes dominant at the late stage. Mollaret cells were found and the level of IL-6 was increased in cerebrospinal fluid. Several antibiotics and antiviral agents failed to prevent relapse. However, colchicine therapy successfully prevented the recurrence of meningitis. Genetic testing for familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) showed a mutation in the MEFV gene. It is difficult to diagnose the cause of Mollaret's meningitis in some patients. FMF, neuro-Behçet's disease, and neuro-Sweet disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of recurrent meningitis. In addition, colchicine therapy can prevent the relapse of meningitis in such cases.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (12866K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 54: 124|129, 2014)
key words: Mollaret meningitis, colchicine, familial Mediterranean fever, autoinflammatory syndrome

(Received: 19-Apr-12)