Recurrent pericarditis as the initial manifestation of Familial Mediterranean fever Kerem Okutur 1 ABDEF, Selçuk Seber 2 BDEF, Erkan Oztekin 1 BF, Cemal Bes 1 BF, Fatih Borlu 1 BF 1 Sisli Etfal Research and Training Hospital Department of Internal Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey 2 Mus State Hospital Department of Internal Medicine, Mus, Turkey Source of support: Departmental sources Summary Background: Familial Mediterranean fever is an autosomal recessive disease largely restricted to certain ethnic groups and presenting with recurrent febrile serositis attacks. Peritonitis, pleuritis, and synovitis are common manifestations; however, the pericardium is rarely affected. Case Report: In this case report, we describe a 25-year-old Turkish woman who presented with recurrent peri- carditis of no obvious cause, which eventually responded to colchicine therapy. Using gene mu- tation analysis to detect the MEFV gene, the patient’s condition was finally diagnosed as Familial Mediterranean fever. Conclusions: Familial Mediterranean fever should be considered in patients with idiopathic recurrent pericar- ditis unresponsive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroids. Mutation analyses should be done. key words: Familial Mediterranean fever • pericarditis • gene analysis • colchicine Full-text PDF: http://www.medscimonit.com/fulltxt.php?ICID=869467 Word count: 1201 Tables: 1 Figures: 1 References: 9 Author’s address: Kerem Okutur, Sisli Etfal Research and Training Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, İstanbul Turkey, Postal code: 34394, e-mail: keremokutur007@yahoo.com Authors’ Contribution: A Study Design B Data Collection C Statistical Analysis D Data Interpretation E Manuscript Preparation F Literature Search G Funds Collection Received: 2007.04.02 Accepted: 2008.04.23 Published: 2008.12.01 CS139 Case Study WWW. MEDSCIMONIT.COM © Med Sci Monit, 2008; 14(12): CS139-141 PMID: 19043372 CS Current Contents/Clinical Medicine • IF(2007)=1.607 • Index Medicus/MEDLINE • EMBASE/Excerpta Medica • Chemical Abstracts • Index Copernicus