Common rheumatic diseases of the Middle East.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this article is to educate military physicians and providers about rare, endemic rheumatic diseases that may be encountered in deployments to the Middle East region, specifically Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), Behcet's disease (BD), and tumor necrosis factor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS).


METHODS
We found review articles using MDConsult and Ovid.


RESULTS
Suitable articles were employed to describe the characteristics of each disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Although these diseases are considered rare, they can be endemic to current areas of deployment. Awareness of these conditions may prevent unnecessary and invasive treatment as well as make the clinician aware of possible disease complications.
Brooke Army Medical Center, 3851 Roger Brooke Drive, San Antonio, TX 78234, USA.
Michelle T
MT
Sit
Ramon
R
Arroyo
D000328:Adult; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000068800:Etanercept; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014481:United States
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; C506235:TNFRSF1A protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068800:Etanercept