Felty syndrome is a disorder that includes rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a swollen spleen, decreased white blood cell count, and repeated infections. Here are some key points:

Causes
- The cause of Felty syndrome is unknown
- It is more common in people who have had RA for a long time.
- People with this syndrome are at Show Full Answer

Felty syndrome is a disorder that includes rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a swollen spleen, decreased white blood cell count, and repeated infections. Here are some key points:

Causes
- The cause of Felty syndrome is unknown.
- It is more common in people who have had RA for a long time.
- People with this syndrome are at risk for infection because they have a low white blood cell count.

Symptoms
- 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

Complications
- Infections that keep coming back
- Increased numbers of large granular lymphocytes (LGL leukemia), treated with methotrexate in many cases

Prevention
- Prompt treatment of RA with currently recommended medicines markedly decreases the risk of developing Felty syndrome.

When to Contact a Medical Professional
- Contact your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms of this disorder.

Alternative Names
- Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Felty's syndrome

Treatment
- Treating the RA should improve Felty syndrome.

References
- 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. (Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators). 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

For more detailed information, you can visit the MedlinePlus page on Felty syndrome [here](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000445.htm).

 This AI-generated response comes from myRAteam and other selected sources. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.

Felty Syndrome: Enlarged Spleen and Frequent Infections in Rheumatoid Arthritis | myRAteam