Diagnosis of periodic peritonitis: evaluation of metaraminol provocation test and colchicine therapeutic trial

ABSTRACT

Periodic peritonitis [PP] or familial Mediterranean fever is not uncommonly seen in the UAE and diagnosis remains one of exclusion. The positive clinical response to colchicine therapy however, is believed by many authorities to confirm the diagnosis and the metaraminol provocation test has raised much interest in the diagnosis of the disease. Ten patients with a clinical diagnosis of periodic peritonitis were tested with metaraminol infusion-nine of them had their symptoms typically reproduced after the infusion, thus reinforcing the importance of this test in establishing the diagnosis when the disease is suspected. The details of the cases and a review of the literature are presented