How to find a specialist?

The specialists who deal with familial Mediterranean fever are usually rheumatologists. In most cases, contact can be made directly through the family doctor, the pediatrician or the clinic. With own search the Internet search is recommended. In the Internet there are sides of self-help groups and information sides, which offer a special list radar and can arrange contacts also with direct speech. Since the frequency of familial Mediterranean fever in Germany is very low, there are only a few specialists who specialize specifically in this disease.

Which symptoms occur?

With most concerning the illness breaks out already in the youth. Over 90 percent of all those affected have their first fever attack before their twentieth birthday. A fever attack usually lasts two to three days and occurs suddenly.

In some patients, the attack can be triggered by certain foods, cold, heat or overexertion. The fever episodes are accompanied by severe pain in the abdomen, chest or joints, as inflammation develops there. In the medical history of those affected, appendectomy and other abdominal scars are often found.

These operations have been performed on those affected, as they are often admitted to hospital with the symptoms of an acute abdomen before the actual diagnosis is made. In addition to peritonitis, there is also pleurisy with breathing pain and pericarditis with infarct-like symptoms. The joint skin can also be affected.

It is noticeable here that it is almost always only a single joint. Particularly on the feet, small reddish skin changes can also occur during a relapse. The family history of the affected person also gives an indication of the familial Mediterranean fever, since there are often already affected persons in the family. Also the origin can make the disease more likely.

Treatment/Therapy

Familial Mediterranean fever is a chronic disease that cannot be cured.The therapy is therefore purely symptomatic, i.e. to improve symptoms and reduce relapses. In active relapses, the patients are treated with painkillers. If the non-steroidal painkillers are not sufficient, treatment with opioids may also be considered.

Anti-inflammatory therapy with ibuprofen, aspirin or diclofenac is also important. Depending on the inflamed organ, additional therapies may also be necessary. In the case of pericarditis, the heart can be so restricted that rhythm disturbances occur, which must be treated with medication.

Between the attacks, the affected persons feel healthy and have no complaints. During this time, however, the frequency of the attacks can be reduced with colchicine therapy. Another drug used to prevent relapses is Anakinra, a human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.

Studies have shown a positive effect on the frequency of relapses. A lower relapse rate leads to fewer complications, such as amyloidosis and the resulting kidney failure. Dialysis may be required once the late effects have occurred.

Between the relapses, those affected feel healthy and have no complaints. During this time, however, the frequency of the relapses can be reduced with colchicine therapy. Another drug used to prevent relapses is Anakinra, a human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.