title: Recurrent episodic fever. A presenting feature of familial Mediterranean fever.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the natural course and outcome of recurrent episodic fever without serositis as a presenting feature of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 309 children with FMF seen over a period of 5 years, 8 presented with recurrent episodes of fever without serositis, imposing a difficult diagnostic problem.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age at onset of fever ranged between 5 months and 8 years with a mean of 2.5 years. Five patients eventually developed serositis. The duration between onset of fever and onset of serositis ranged between 1.5-3 years with a mean of 2 years. Of the 3 patients who did not develop serositis, 2 had a family history of FMF. Therapeutic response to colchicine was dramatic in 7 children (one refused colchicine prophylaxis).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Episodic fever alone without serositis is a presenting feature of FMF. In patients from Mediterranean ancestors and/or the presence of family history of FMF, a therapeutic diagnostic test with colchicine could be rewarding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Majeed
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rawashdeh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qubain
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003078:Colchicine