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Familial Mediterranean fever - Symptom

Alternative Names

Familial paroxysmal polyserositis; Periodic peritonitis; Recurrent polyserositis; Benign paroxysmal peritonitis; Periodic disease; Periodic fever

Symptoms:

Symptoms usually begin ages 5 and 15. Inflammation in the lining of the abdominal cavity, chest cavity, skin, or joints occurs, along with high fevers that usually peak in 12 to 24 hours. Attacks may vary in severity of symptoms. Patients are usually symptom-free between attacks.

Symptoms may include:

Abdominal pain that occurs repeatedly (recurrent)
Chest pain that occurs repeatedly
Fever or alternating chills and fever (relapsing)
Recurrent joint pain
Skin lesions that are red and swollen and range from 5-20 cm in diameter

Signs and tests:

There is no specific test to diagnose this disease. Sometimes analysis of the chromosomes can help. Ruling out other possible diseases using laboratory tests or x-rays will help determine the diagnosis.

Certain blood tests may be higher-than-normal when done during an attack. Tests may include:

Temperature measurement

Reviewed last on: 9/28/2008
Jatin M. Vyas, PHD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Kastner DL. The systemic autoinflammatory diseases. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 282.

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