Familial Mediterranean Fever Testing Procedures

Testing procedures differ from illness to illness and doctor's must take into account the patient's current condition among many other factors. So what about those diseases that we rarely come across? Familial Mediterranean fever is one of those rare diseases that most people don't hear of. The truth of the matter is, that some people are not so fortunate and have to deal with this uncommon illness. That being said, there are certain medical tests for such a disorder. This article will briefly describe the various ways to determine the prognosis of FMF disease.

WBC Levels
Most of the tests are searching for abnormal elevated levels of urine, cells, and proteins in the body. A common testing procedure for this rare ailment is checking for a high white blood cell count. This test helps determine the body's immune response. The WBC or leukocytes' role is to protect the body from any foreign matter or infectious disease. The presence of many leukocytes in the blood can be a clear sign of disease.

Serum Haptoglobin Levels
Haptoglobin is an essential protein manufactured in the body. Extreme stress, allergies, and other inflammatory process is likely to increase the plasma haptoglobin levels in the body, this may negatively impact red blood cells. Checking for elevated haptoglobin levels shows the destruction of red blood cells and is often a great way to find out if someone is suffering from familial Mediterranean fever.

Plasma Fibrinogen
In order to assist in the prevention of bleeding, detecting elevated plasma fibrinogen is crucial. Synthesized by the liver, this soluble plasma glycoprotein is converted from thrombin to fibrin during the coagulation of blood. Fibrin has been shown through various research studies, to contribute greatly to inflammation and thus, result in the development of rheumatoid arthritis, often a symptom in FMF patients.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a common hematology test, looking for the rate at which RBC sediment over a one hour period. High levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a clear indication of inflammation response.

C-Reactive Protein Test
Also referred to as CRP, C-reactive protein produced in the liver, and is implemented to diagnose any inflammation and is regarded as a non-specific testing procedure. Despite not being able to determine exactly where the inflammation is coming from, CRP is beneficial when coupled with other tests and current symptoms to determine the level of acute or chronic inflammation of a patient.

Urinalysis Test
Also known as UA or Routine and Microscopy (R&M), urinalysis is a series of tests that can reveal diseases like familial Mediterranean fever, that often go unnoticed due to the delay or difficulty in diagnosing any symptoms. High levels of albumin in the urine can be a sign of illnesses, especially kidney disease.

Familial Mediterranean fever symptoms can be challenging to determine, so doctors will routinely apply any of the above tests to help diagnose this illness. Molecular tests are also used in the prognosis of FMF disease.