Living with Felty syndrome
A rare condition with three features: rheumatoid arthritis, an enlarged spleen, and a low white blood cell count that leads to repeated infections.
Understanding Felty syndrome
The low white blood cell count can cause repeated infections. Some people have no symptoms, while others have serious infections. Other symptoms may include tiredness, fever, weight loss, enlarged liver or lymph nodes, Sjogren syndrome, and leg ulcers. A few family cases have been reported. It usually starts in adulthood.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Arthritis and joint pain
- Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
- Low neutrophil count and repeated infections
- Anemia
- Lumps under the skin
- Limited joint movement
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists and allergy and immune system specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Autoimmune Association may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists (rheumatologists); Allergy and immune system specialists (allergists / immunologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Autoimmune Association
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Autoimmune Association and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
The exact cause is unknown, but several risk factors have been proposed, including autoimmunity. A few family cases have been reported.
Also known as: felty's syndrome; rheumatoid arthritis with splenoadenomegaly and leukopenia; rheumatoid arthritis, leukopenia and splenomegaly; splenomegaly-neutropenia-rheumatoid arthritis syndrome
Patient organizations
- Autoimmune AssociationFelty syndrome · United States
- Arthritis FoundationFelty syndrome · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Felty syndrome.
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- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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