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Published on: October 3, 2019

The frequency of familial Mediterranean fever in an emergency unit

Seval Masatlioglu1, Ender Dulundu, Feride Gogus

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Haydarpasa Haydarpasa Numune Research and Education Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. sevalmasatlioglu@yahoo.com

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
|October 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) frequently causes recurrent abdominal pain, leading to unnecessary surgeries. This study found a 2% FMF frequency in emergency patients with acute abdominal pain in Turkey, highlighting a need for better physician awareness.

Area of Science:

  • Internal Medicine
  • Genetics
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) affects approximately 90% of patients with recurrent fever and abdominal pain.
  • Many FMF patients are initially misdiagnosed with acute abdomen, leading to unnecessary surgical interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of FMF among patients presenting to emergency units with acute abdominal pain.
  • To assess the diagnostic considerations for FMF in emergency settings.

Main Methods:

  • A screening of 100 consecutive patients admitted to an emergency unit in Istanbul, Turkey, for acute abdominal pain was conducted.
  • Patients were evaluated for the presence of FMF.

Main Results:

  • A 2% frequency of definite FMF cases was identified among the screened patients.
  • This prevalence was significantly higher than the general FMF frequency in Turkey.

Conclusions:

  • Physicians in emergency units should consider FMF in their differential diagnosis for acute abdominal pain.
  • Increased awareness of FMF is crucial, particularly in regions where the disease is endemic.

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