Felty Syndrome Overview
Learn About Felty Syndrome
Felty syndrome is a disorder that includes rheumatoid arthritis, a swollen spleen, decreased white blood cell count, and repeated infections. It is rare.
Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA); Felty's syndrome
The cause of Felty syndrome is unknown. It is more common in people who have had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for a long time. People with this syndrome are at risk for infection because they have a low white blood cell count.
Symptoms include:
- General feeling of discomfort (malaise)
- Fatigue
- Weakness in leg or arm
- Loss of appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
- Ulcers in the skin
- Joint swelling, stiffness, pain, and deformity
- Recurrent infections
- Red eye with burning or discharge
In most cases, people who have this syndrome are not getting recommended treatment for RA. They may need other medicines to suppress their immune system and reduce the activity of their RA.
Methotrexate may improve the low neutrophil count. The drug rituximab has been successful in people who do not respond to methotrexate.
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) may raise the neutrophil count.
Some people benefit from removal of the spleen (splenectomy).
John Ed Chambers Memorial Hospital Inc
John Westwood is a Family Medicine specialist and a General Practice provider in Plainview, Arkansas. Dr. Westwood and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Felty Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Hypertension, Familial Hypertension, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, and Hypertensive Heart Disease. Dr. Westwood is currently accepting new patients.
Bowlin-Cummins PA
Lander Smith is a Family Medicine provider in Conway, Arkansas. Dr. Smith has been practicing medicine for over 47 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Felty Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Flu, Cirrhosis, Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia, and Xanthoma. Dr. Smith is currently accepting new patients.
Bowlin-Cummins PA
Joe Cummins is a Family Medicine provider in Conway, Arkansas. Dr. Cummins has been practicing medicine for over 40 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Felty Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Xanthoma, Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia, Cirrhosis, and High Cholesterol. Dr. Cummins is currently accepting new patients.
Without treatment, infections may continue to occur.
RA is likely to get worse.
Treating the RA, however, should improve Felty syndrome.
You may have infections that keep coming back.
Some people with Felty syndrome have increased numbers of large granular lymphocytes, also called LGL leukemia. This will be treated with methotrexate in many cases.
Contact your health care provider if you develop symptoms of this disorder.
Prompt treatment of RA with currently recommended medicines markedly decreases the risk of developing Felty syndrome.
Published Date: April 30, 2023
Published By: Neil J. Gonter, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, and private practice specializing in Rheumatology at Rheumatology Associates of North Jersey, Teaneck, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Cameron J. Spleen. In: Cameron J, ed. Current Surgical Therapy. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 10.
England BR, Mikuls TR. Clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 76.
Gazitt T, Loughran TP Jr. Chronic neutropenia in LGL leukemia and rheumatoid arthritis. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2017;2017(1):181-186. PMID: 29222254 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29222254/.
Myasoedova E, Matteson EL. Extraarticular features of rheumatoid arthritis. In: Hochberg MC, Gravallese EM, Smolen JS, van der Heijde D, Weinblatt ME, Weisman MH, eds. Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 91.
Savola P, Brück O, Olson T, et al. Somatic STAT3 mutations in Felty syndrome: an implication for a common pathogenesis with large granular lymphocyte leukemia. Haematologica. 2018;103(2):304-312. PMID: 29217783 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29217783/.
Wang CR, Chiu YC, Chen YC. Successful treatment of refractory neutropenia in Felty's syndrome with rituximab. Scand J Rheumatol. 2018;47(4):340-341. PMID: 28753121 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28753121/.