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Familial Mediterranean fever

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

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

Treatment:

The treatment for familial Mediterranean fever is treatment of symptoms. Colchicine, a medicine that reduces inflammation, may help during an attack and may prevent further attacks.

Expectations (prognosis):

There is no known cure for familial Mediterranean fever. Most people continue to have attacks, but the number and severity of attacks is different from person to person.

Complications:

Discomfort is the primary complication. There is a risk of addiction to the narcotic pain relievers used to relieve symptoms.

Amyloidosis (deposits of protein in different organs) is more common in patients with familial Mediterranean fever. Gallbladder disease may also occur.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if symptoms develop to rule out other possible causes and get appropriate treatment. See a pain specialist if there is chronic pain.

• Review Date: 8/15/2006
• Reviewed By: Hilary M. Babcock, M.D., Medical Director of Occupational Infection Control, Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospitals; Instructor of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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