Fever is one of the most common reasons patients visit a doctor. Most often, an increase in body temperature is of infectious nature, indicating the presence of an inflammatory focus in the body, but there are a number of non-infectious diseases that are accompanied by fever.
Such diseases include Familial Mediterranean fever, known in Latin as Familial Mediterranean fever. The periodic disease is characteristic of people living in the Mediterranean basin (Turks, Armenians, Sephardic Jews, Arabs, and North Africans). However, this fever also occurs in Russians, Bulgarians, Ashkenazi Jews, Greeks, Italians, and others.
Symptoms
FMF most often manifests in childhood and early adolescence, characterized by short episodes of fever (from 6 hours to 4 days) combined with inflammation of serous membranes (serositis).
Treatment of Periodic Disease in Israel
To control the condition, the pharmaceutical industry produces a drug from the plant colchicum – colchicine. The medication is used to treat the disease and pursues two goals:
1. Reducing and preventing attacks.
Patients suffering from fever must regularly take the medication; the drug does not relieve an already started attack, so taking colchicine during an exacerbation does not yield positive results. However, systematic and regular intake of the medication protects against the occurrence of attacks, making them less pronounced.
2. Prevention of amyloidosis development.
When taken according to the scheme developed by our treating physician, colchicine prevents the development of amyloidosis. Those at risk with M694V mutations should take the medication for preventive purposes.
Periodic fever is a condition that requires constant monitoring. The patient's condition always depends on their discipline. Incorrect intake of colchicine and non-compliance with the intake regimen can lead to exacerbation of the disease and may change the entire clinical picture.
Advantages of Treating Periodic Disease at Top Ichilov Clinic
- Israeli geneticists are recognized as some of the best in the world;
- The genetic center of the clinic offers the most modern diagnostic and treatment methods, the most advanced research results;
- Our doctors continuously conduct scientific research in the field of genetic diseases and their treatment;
- In each case, the doctors at Top Ichilov Clinic approach individually and comprehensively.
Diagnostic Criteria for Periodic Disease at Top Ichilov Clinic
Genetic predisposition is of great importance for diagnosing the disease, so during the interview, the doctor investigates the presence of the disease in the family and among the patient's relatives. Diagnosis includes clinical, genetic, and biochemical studies.
Clinically, FMF can present a picture of peritonitis, pleuritis, arthritis, and other inflammatory processes in the body, but periodicity of attacks, their short duration, and cyclicity are mandatory. In periods between attacks, no clinical manifestations are observed.
The episodic nature of manifestations is established by taking blood tests; the blood formula during attacks changes, showing high ESR, leukocytosis, high fibrinogen, and CRP. During periods of calm, the formula returns to normal.
To confirm the diagnosis, patients are assigned molecular genetic testing. Moreover, for comparison of mutations, even those types of mutations that are extremely rare in the clinical picture are taken into account.