Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent, self-limited attacks of fever with serositis involving the peritoneum, pleura and joints. Fatigue is a common problem in many pediatric rheumatic diseases; however, has not been evaluated systematically in FMF patients. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate fatigue and its possible allied factors in patients with FMF. Patients with FMF, aged between 10 and 21 years, were assessed by completed validated fatigue questionnaire (Checklist Individual Strength-20). As a control group, patients with chronic rheumatic diseases and healthy children without any chronic disease were included. The study group comprised 111 patients with FMF, 54 with other chronic rheumatic diseases and 79 healthy subjects. While the CIS-20 total score and subscale scores (including subjective experience of fatigue) were similar between patients with FMF and those with other chronic rheumatic diseases (p > .05); both groups had sig...

Objectives No studies examined the lower extremity–related anaerobic exercise capacity or functional status in adult patients with FMF. Methods Twenty-four patients with FMF (12 males) and 24 age–sex-matched healthy controls (13 males) were included in the study. Lower extremity–related anaerobic exercise capacity was assessed by using Wingate Anaerobic Test. Lower extremity–related functional status was examined by using 9-Step Stair Climb Test, 10-Repetition Chair Stand Test, and Six-Minute Walking Distance. Muscle strength of hip flexors, hip extensors, knee flexors, and knee extensors were evaluated by using a hand-held dynamometer. Results Patients with FMF had significantly poorer results in all anaerobic exercise capacity parameters and functional status assessments (P < 0.05), except muscle strength measurements (P > 0.05). Both average and peak anaerobic exercise capacities correlated significantly with all muscle strength measurements, 9-Step Stair Climb Test, 10-Rep...

Objective To evaluate the number of episodes in the past 12 months as an indicator of the overall disease activity status in Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Methods In this cross-sectional study, patients were recruited from tertiary pediatric hospitals. Demographic data, main clinical symptoms of the episodes, treatment modalities, and genetic mutations were recorded. The patients were grouped as no episodes (Group 1), 1–4 episodes (Group 2), and more than 4 episodes (Group 3) according to the number of episodes in the past 12 months. The Pediatric Quality Life Inventory (PedsQL), the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), and the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (FACES) scores were compared between groups. Concurrent validity between the number of episodes and the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (ρ). Results A total of 239 patients were included. There were 74 patients (31%) in Group 1, 99 (41.4%) in Group ...

Background Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a periodic auto-inflammatory disease with multiple systemic manifestations. This study aims to describe the various musculoskeletal and neurological manifestations in a cohort of Egyptian FMF patients and to evaluate their relation to the different Mediterranean fever gene (MEFV) mutations. Results This study involved 145 FMF patients, of them 62.1% were females and 31.7% were of the pediatric age. All involved patients had homozygous MEFV gene mutation. The presenting manifestation in 71.9% of these patients was abdominal pain followed by musculoskeletal manifestations in 35.2% of them. 38.6 % of the involved patients had arthritis during the period of follow-up. Monoarthritis was the most frequent pattern of arthritis. Arthralgia was present in 96.6% of the studied patients. Myalgia was present in 19.3% of the studied patients especially involving the lower limb muscles with one case of protracted febrile myalgia. Neurological manif...

Aim: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory and chronic disorder. Colchicine has been prescribed to treat FMF since 1972. Balance is a complex function of the neuromuscular system. The aim of this study is to determine 1) if there is a connection between FMF and dynamic balance, 2) if colchicine use affects balance, and 3) if the disease severity score is related to a disruption in balance. Materials and Methods: The study examined 50 pediatric patients with FMF and 130 healthy age- and sex-matched children as control subjects. Dynamic postural stability was measured using the Biodex Stability System (BSS). Results: The stability indices were significantly higher in the FMF group than in the controls. There was no relationship between the FMF disease severity score and the three stability indices, while the colchicine dose was related to all three stability indices. Conclusion: By detecting any change in balance status early using a simple, safe, objective measurement of balance via the BSS in FMF patients, neuromyopathy could be identified earlier and unwanted outcomes prevented. Keywords: Dynamic balance, biodex stability system, colchicine, Familial Mediterranean Fever, children

Objectives This study aims to investigate the association between familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and cachexia in females. Patients and methods The study included 32 female FMF patients (median age 27.50 years; range, 18 to 50 years) and 30 female healthy controls (median age 32 years; range, 18 to 50 years). Patients were classified according to Tel-Hashomer criteria. Circumference of arm, waist, and thigh was recorded. Short form 36 (SF-36) and Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale were applied. Composition of the body was measured with dual X-ray absorption. Muscle strength was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer, and strength of hand grip was measured from dominant hand with a hand dynamometer. C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fibrinogen and serum creatinine kinase (CK) levels were recorded. Results Body mass index was significantly higher in controls. Twelve patients and one control had cachexia. CK level was significantly higher in patien...

Little research has been devoted to date to the work and social background of the arzuhalcis, the professional letter and petition writers in the Ottoman Empire, even though they were part of the Ottoman urban landscape of the 19 th century and handled most of the public's writing and correspondence with the authorities. The services they offered were well known to the general public and a wide variety of people, men and women, urbanites, villagers, Bedouins, and officials alike, approached them and paid for having their petitions written professionally. This article examines the arzuhalacis' social profile and status in society based on the Ottoman census of 1905 for the city of Gaza on the southern Palestine coast. Petitions sent from this city to Istanbul by the city's urban population as well as by peasants and Bedouin from the region were for the most part written in Arabic, often in a very high register, which no doubt was formulated by professional petition writers. Several questions come to mind when exploring the place of the arzuhalcis in Gaza, in particular given what we know about this city's stormy politics at the time. How many petition and letter writers were active in this city? Were any of them identified with one of the factions in this city to an extent that others from rivaling coalitions refrained from using their services? Were any of the petition writers in Gaza former state employees, or perhaps non-natives of Gaza? What was their relationships with state and local officials? Finally, where were they active in Gaza's public space? This article attempts to respond to some of these questions to better understand the role of the arzuhalcis in the public space of a late Ottoman provincial city in Greater Syria.