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INTRODUCTION Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent attacks of polyserositis. Even though clinical assessment is accepted to be the most important factor in the diagnosis of FMF, some diagnostic procedures may help the physician. In this study, we aimed to compare the number of diagnostic procedures performed and number of physician referrals in early diagnosed and late diagnosed cases. Furthermore, we assessed which diagnostic approaches would affect the decision-making of physicians in the early diagnosed patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS We enrolled into the study 143 FMF patients who met the Tel-Hashomer Criteria. Demographic variables, MEFV mutations (when available), diagnostic procedures (if performed) and specialist referrals were evaluated. Early diagnosis was defined as establishment of definite diagnosis within a 5-year period after the appearance of the first symptom. RESULTS Early diagnosed were referred to physicians less often, and except for genetic testing, had fewer diagnostic procedures. In addition to clinical features, MEFV testing was found to be the only method that might influence the diagnosis by a physician. CONCLUSIONS MEFV gene assessment, unlike other diagnostic procedures, might support physicians in the early diagnosis of FMF. Especially in atypical cases, MEFV gene assessment might be considered for diagnosis of FMF.

WOS: 000344362300007, PubMed ID: 24433553, Objectives: Paraneoplastic arthritis (PA) may mimic rheumatic diseases. While presenting the demographic and laboratory features of the patients diagnosed with PA, this study also aims to provide possible appropriate tools to differentiate the PA cases from early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA). Methods: Sixty-five patients with PA (male/female: 43/22) from 15 different rheumatology clinics and 50 consecutive patients with ERA (male/female: 13/37) fulfilling the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for the diagnosis if the RA from Gaziantep Rheumatology Early Arthritis Trial (GREAT) as controls who were diagnosed at least 12 months before, were enrolled into study. Results: Mean ages of the patients with PA and ERA were 50.2 +/- 15.3, and 42.7 +/- 12.3, respectively, and the mean ages of the patients with PA were significantly higher than the ERA. Unlike the ERA patients, in our case series PA was predominantly observed among males. Oligoarthritis was significantly higher in solid tumors in contrast to ERA (P = 0.001). Polyarthritis and symmetric arthritis were significantly higher in the ERA group in contrast to all malignancies (P = 0.001). Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) positivity were significantly higher in the ERA group (each P = 0.001). Lactic dehydrogenase levels of hematologic malignancies were significantly higher than other groups (each, P = 0.001). Conclusions: ERA patients had more symmetric joint involvement than PA; laboratory markers could be also an alternative where there is high RF and anti-CCP positivity with antibody levels among the ERA patients. Finally, the demographic features can be used as differentiating