[Familial Mediterranean fever].

The diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever is often difficult. The typical symptoms of this disease have been observed in two Turkish patients. The diagnostic criteria are short attacks of fever recurring in varying intervals, and painful symptoms in the abdomen, chest, joints or skin. Since no specific test for familial Mediterranean fever is available, the diagnosis must be based on precise clinical criteria and a genetic disorder with autosomal recessive inheritance and predilection for people of Mediterranean stock, particularly sephardic Jews and Armenians. The therapeutic response to colchicine may confirm diagnostic accuracy. Amyloidosis is a major symptom of the disease and dominates the further clinical picture. Treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) may inhibit the progression of amyloidosis and improvement of renal function can be achieved.