title: [Familial Mediterranean fever - first experiences in Slovakia].
abstract: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most prevalent genetically determined autoinflammatory disease. FMF significantly decreases the quality of life and limits life expectancy due to the development of amyloidosis in affected individuals. Prevalence of FMF is highest in the south-eastern Mediterraneans. In other parts of the world, its occurance is often restricted to high-risk ethnic groups. In Central Europe, experience with FMF is scarse to none, as in the case of Slovakia, where no cases have been reported, so far. Herein we report the first five patients (3 adults and 2 children, 4 native Slovaks) in whom the diagnosis of FMF could be confirmed in Slovakia. Our experience demonstrates that FMF does occur in low-risk populations in Central Europe. Due to low prevalence and lack of experience, FMF diagnosis may be significantly delayed (4.5-30 years) and undiagnosed cases are to be expected in our population.
authors.forename: Tomáš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dallos
authors.forename: Lucia Lukáčiková
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Gálová
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Macejková
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sedlačko
authors.forename: Nataša
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toplak
authors.forename: Maruša
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Debeljak
authors.forename: Hasmik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sargsyan
authors.forename: Denisa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ilenčíková
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovács
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012306:Risk; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology