FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER AND AMILOIDOSIS IN TURKISH MEDICINE

In this report, by the guidance of Turkish and international literature, the features of FMF disease in Turkish patients and the advances in related with thi disease Turkish Medicine were presented. FMF is an autosomal recessesive hereditary disease which affects people of mediterranean origins (Turks, Armenians, Araps, Sephardic Jews). The disease is characterized by recurrent, self-limited fever, abdominal pain, pleuritis, arthritis and erysipelas-like skin lesion. FMF is a disease of childhood and %90 of patients begin to suffer before 20 years of age. The clinical features are similiar in all affected ethnic groups. But it was emphasised by several reports that course of the disease is more severe and the incidence of amyloidosis is much higher in Turkish patients compared to other ethnic groups.

The diagnosis of FMF is based on clinical manifestations and following up patients. FMF suspectible patients should be evaluated both in attacks and attackfree period for accurate diagnosis. There is no spesific laboratory tests for FMF. During attacks, acute phase reactants such as C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, ceruloplazmin, serum amyloid A are elevated. All these tests are usually returned gradually to normal values after attacks. 

The most important complication of FMF is amyloidosis, usually affecting the kidneys, resulting in renal insufficiency Today, colchicine treatment decreases the occurance of FMF attacks and prevents development of amyloidosis Previovsly as the knowledge and experiences about the disease increases, patients are more regularly observed and receivel colchicine treatment. Consequently amyloidosis has been decreased in Turkey as well as in the world