Porphyria and familial mediterranean fever: increased incidence

In multicultural societies we have to consider a rising number of rare diseases such as porphyria and familial mediterranean fever. These diseases are autosomal dominant genetic disorders and more common in southern european, arabic, asian and african populations as well as scandinavians.

There is a high rate of undetected cases (> 80%) since many symptoms are unspecific, not all patients show the full range of symptoms and many have "learned to live with their problem", not knowing from what they actually suffer.

Symptoms can vary and often affect:

• abdominal pain, headache, arthralgia
• cerebral  symptoms even convulsions and psychosis
• neurological  symptoms
• tachycardia and hypertension
• skin
• nausea and vomiting

Factors such as stress, infections, menstrual period, drugs and alcohol, medication and certain foods can trigger an acute attack. Diagnosis and treatment of these disorders are difficult.