Identifying a Specific Biomarker Allows for Improved Quality of Life

Research Article

Austin J Clin Med. 2014;1(1): 1005.

Identifying a Specific Biomarker Allows for Improved Quality of Life

Vincent Cracolici1, Victor Elgabalawi1 and Houria I Hassouna1,*

1College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, USA

*Corresponding author: Houria I Hassouna, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, B-214 Clinical Center, 788 Service Road East Lansing, MI 48824-1313, USA

Received: January 02, 2014; Accepted: February 10, 2014; Published: February 14, 2014

Abstract

Serositis and intermittent fever with cyclic white cell count elevations above normal range pose diagnostic challenges. Identifying specific biomarkers may allow for earlier treatment and improved quality of life for those diseases that share common symptoms and fall ambiguously in the domain of the rheumatologist, the infectious disease specialist or the hematologist. As our approach to diagnostics is growing increasingly sophisticated and moleculartools are becoming more commonplace, genotype-phenotype correlations should become immediately clinically useful.

Keywords: Diagnostic challenge; Specific biomarker; Cyclic leukocytosis; Intermittent fever; Familial Mediterranean Fever; Autoinflammatory syndromes; Pyrin; MEFV gene mutations.

Introduction

Serositis and intermittent fever with cyclic white cell count elevations above normal range pose a diagnostic challenge to the rheumatologist, the infectious disease specialist or the hematologist (Table 1).