RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The prodrome: a prominent yet overlooked pre-attack manifestation of familial Mediterranean fever.
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 1089
OP 1092
VO 33
IS 6
A1 Merav Lidar
A1 Marina Yaqubov
A1 Nurit Zaks
A1 Shomron Ben-Horin
A1 Pnina Langevitz
A1 Avi Livneh
YR 2006
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/33/6/1089.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize pre-attack symptoms (prodrome) in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). METHODS: Forty-eight patients with FMF whose attacks are preceded by a prodromal period composed the study population. Clinical, demographic, and genetic characteristics of the study group were compared to those of a control group of 48 patients with FMF whose attacks begin without a premonitory phase. Patients of both groups were recruited consecutively, during their routine followup visit to the FMF clinic. RESULTS: A prodrome was found to be a common manifestation of FMF, experienced by about 50% of the patients. Overall, demographic, clinical, and genetic variables were comparable between study and control groups. In affected patients prodrome recurs in most attacks, lasts a mean of 20 hours, and manifests with either a mildly unpleasant sensation at the site of the forthcoming spell (discomfort prodrome), or with a spectrum of physical, emotional, and neuropsychological complaints (variant prodrome). The 2 types of prodromata are frequently accompanied by a host of constitutional symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A prodromal period heralding attacks is a newly defined and reliable FMF manifestation that reproducibly predicts attacks and may help prevent attacks and elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease.