2024-03-22 20:15:00
10:15 PM Friday, March 22, 2024
Books – Sayed Metwally
Jordanian artist Safaa Sultan confirmed that she suffered a sudden health problem while filming an artwork, and was subsequently transferred to a hospital to receive treatment.
After examinations, it became clear to the doctors that Safaa was suffering from Mediterranean fever, but what do we know about this disease?
According to Mayoclinic, Mediterranean fever is a hereditary, autoinflammatory disease that causes recurrent high fever and painful inflammation of the abdomen, chest, and joints.
the reasons
Mediterranean fever occurs due to a genetic change (mutation) that is passed from parents to children, and affects the function of an immune system protein called pyrin, causing problems in controlling infections within the body.
The change in people with familial Mediterranean fever occurs in a gene called MEFV. Several changes in the MEFV gene are associated with familial Mediterranean fever. Some genetic changes may lead to very severe cases, while other changes cause milder signs and symptoms.
It is not clearly known what triggers seizures, but they may occur with emotional stress, menstrual cycles, exposure to a cold, or physical stress such as illness or injury.
Symptoms
Signs of Mediterranean fever usually begin during childhood, and occur in the form of short bouts called attacks, which last from one to three days. Arthritis attacks may last for several weeks or months.
Symptoms may include:
fever
Abdominal pain
Chest pain may make it difficult to breathe deeply
Pain and swelling in the joints, usually in the knees, ankles and hips
A red rash on your legs, especially under your knees
Muscle pain
Swelling and relaxation of the scrotum
In general, the attacks go away spontaneously after a few days, and after each attack you will likely feel that you have returned to your normal state of health. The symptom-free periods may be short, lasting only a few days, or long, lasting a few years.
For some, the first sign of Mediterranean fever is amyloidosis.
In the case of amyloidosis, amyloid A protein, which is not normally present in the body, accumulates inside the body’s organs – especially in the kidneys – causing inflammation and affecting their function.
Complications
Mediterranean fever may cause complications when left untreated, and inflammation may lead to complications such as:
Amyloidosis
During episodes of familial Mediterranean fever, the body may secrete a protein called amyloid A, which is an abnormal protein. Accumulation of this protein leads to inflammation, which may cause organ damage.
Kidney damage
Amyloidosis may damage the kidneys, causing nephrotic syndrome. It occurs when the filters in the kidneys (glomeruli) are damaged. People with nephrotic syndrome may lose large amounts of protein that appear in the urine.
Nephrotic syndrome can lead to blood clots in the kidneys (renal vein thrombosis) or kidney failure.
Joint pain
Arthritis is common among people with familial Mediterranean fever, and the joints most commonly affected are the knees, ankles, and hips.
Infertility
Inflammation from familial Mediterranean fever that is left untreated may affect the reproductive organs, causing infertility.
Other complications
They include inflammation in the heart, lungs, spleen, brain, and superficial veins.
When do you visit the doctor?
You should consult your doctor if you or your child develops a sudden fever accompanied by pain in the abdomen, chest, and joints.
Risk factors
Factors that may increase your risk of developing Mediterranean fever include:
If you have a family history of this disorder, you will be more susceptible to it.
If you are of Mediterranean descent, if your family’s historical origins go back to the Mediterranean region, you are more likely to develop the disease.
treatment
There is no completely cure for familial Mediterranean fever, but some medications may help relieve symptoms, prevent attacks, and prevent complications caused by inflammation.
Medications used to relieve symptoms of familial Mediterranean fever and prevent attacks include:
Colchicine
Colchicine, taken in pill form, reduces inflammation in your body and helps prevent seizures and amyloidosis.
Your doctor should determine the dosing strategy that’s best for you. Some people take one dose daily, while others need smaller, more frequent doses.
Colchicine works effectively to protect most patients from seizures. To reduce the severity of symptoms during attacks, the doctor may recommend intravenous solutions and medications to lower the temperature of the fever, reduce inflammation, and control pain.
Canakinumab
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved canakinumab (Ilaris) for the treatment of familial Mediterranean fever.
Other possible options include rilonacept (Arcalyst) and anakinra (Kineret), although they are not approved by the FDA specifically for treating familial Mediterranean fever.
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