title: Recurrent pericarditis as the initial manifestation of Familial Mediterranean fever.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case report, we describe a 25-year-old Turkish woman who presented with recurrent pericarditis of no obvious cause, which eventually responded to colchicine therapy. Using gene mutation 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 pericarditis unresponsive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroids. Mutation analyses should be done.
authors.affiliation: Sisli Etfal Research and Training Hospital Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. keremokutur007@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kerem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okutur
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seber
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oztekin
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bes
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004452:Echocardiography; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071198:Pyrin; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C000604192:MEFV protein, human; D000071198:Pyrin