Familial Mediterranean Fever Overview

Familial Mediterranean Fever Overview
By Jon J.

The inherited ailment characterized by recurrent bouts of fever, inflammation, and pain in the chest, muscles and joints is known as familial Mediterranean fever. This rare disorder can be diagnosed early in life however, first signs of recurrent attacks usually occurs in the later teenage years. This disease generally effects those people originating within Armenia, Turkey and other surrounding Mediterranean regions. That being said, it can still affect those of different nationalities. While severity ranges from patient to patient, these recurrent episodes can last anywhere between a few hours up to 3 days.

Treating FMF
Colchicine is the drug used to treat familial Mediterranean fever. It has been proven to be the most effective form of treatment, helping to dramatically reduce episodic attacks and further complications for the majority of FMF sufferers. Without this prescribed drug, amyloidosis, better known as the build of amyloid protein, can occur throughout the organs and tissues of the body, resulting in the potential for kidney failure. It is best for FMF patients to use colchicine under the discretion of their physicians approval.

Here are some other names individuals use for Familial Mediterranean Fever:

• FMF
• Periodic Peritonitis
• MEF
• Reimann Periodic Disease
• Wolff Periodic Disease
• Recurrent Polyserositis
• Mediterranean Fever, Familial
• Siegal-Cattan-Mamou Disease
• Periodic Disease

The Gene Associated With Periodic Peritonitis
The MEFV gene helps regulate inflammation and produces the pyrin protein found in white blood cells. Mutations of this gene cause FMF by reducing the amount of protein pyrin produced, which interferes with the regulation of inflammation and signaling white blood cells to injury sites. Symptoms and attacks including muscle, joint, abdominal pain and fever are a result of prolonged inflammatory response.

FMF Inheritance
Both gene copies in cells will have mutations in order for someone to be diagnosed with familial Mediterranean fever. In other words, while both parents of a child obtaining an autosomal recessive condition carry a copy of the gene mutation without showing any symptoms of the condition, it is typically inherited in an autosomal recessive form. There are other cases where this condition can be inherited in various forms including an autosomal recessive inheritance and an autosomal dominant pattern.

A healthy body can fight off cancer cells and when the body can control or manage inflammation or is capable of resisting pathogens, diseases and cancers can be avoided. If you feel your suffering from inflammation, make sure to consult your nearest physician to learn more about your current condition.

Familial Mediterranean fever is a very rare disease that can affect males and females starting at a very young age. To learn more about the symptoms, genes involved, and treatment methods, take a look at http://familialmediterraneanfever.net, now!

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