Comments on: Family History Can Save Your Life

By: JA Benson

JA Benson — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:31:53 +0000

Hi Lisa, I just saw your comment. Sorry for the delay. I do not think anyone knows the answer to your question. In order for FMF to manifest itself, both of your parents have to have been either carriers ( recessively) or have the illness ( dominant). The FMF gene can hid for several generations passing recessively until two people with the FMF gene get together and have children. As you do your genealogy, look at your distant cousins. Look for unexplained early deaths, infertility, and chronic illness symptoms. Hopefully that will give you the clues you need.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:43:37 +0000

I have FMF and wantedto know which Meditterranean ancestors migrated to Southwest VA that carries the gene.My parents are deceased and were never aware that I (and possibly siblings) have the disease so it’s difficult for me to research.

By: JA Benson

JA Benson — Mon, 30 May 2011 04:01:24 +0000

Hayk- I removed the map. Thanks for your comments. I did not know the extent Armenians had FMF. Thanks for the information.

By: Hayk

Hayk — Sun, 29 May 2011 21:22:15 +0000

By the way, your map is very messy. Besides the border lines being completely messed up, Armenia is directly to the right of Turkey not way above. Having a messy map makes readers think that their source isn’t accurate so i would fix that

By: Hayk

Hayk — Sun, 29 May 2011 21:17:46 +0000

Amazing story joanna, and I’m glad to see that you’re feeling a lot better.
But I would just like to point out that in your article you say that Armenians have FMF to a lesser extent than Sephardic Jews.
The truth is quite the opposite.
FMF is also known as Armenian Syndrome because 1 in 5 Armenians carry the recessive gene and 1 in 100 Armenians have FMF.
I’m merely pointing this out just so you and your reaaders won’t be misinformed. I know two children (from two different families that I am very close with), who both died of FMF at age 10. I just don’t want Armenian readers to think that their sympthoms are from another disorder because you say that gene frequency is a lot less in Armenians.
Ashekanazi Jews are said to have a lowest frequency of all the regions affected by FMF (Armenians, Arabs, Turks, Sephardic Jews)

Thanks a lot for taking your time to write this essay and let people know the truth about FMF. It is considered a rare disorder in America, but the truth is that it is very common around those areas, and people with ancestory going back to the Mediterranean need to realize that this could be a killer if left untreated

By: JA Benson

JA Benson — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:40:53 +0000

jabenson@millennialstar.org

By: Pattie

Pattie — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:12:10 +0000

JA Benson:
What is your email address. I want to contact you regarding obtaining colchicine in Canada. Thanks!

By: UV Paint :

UV Paint : — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 04:46:30 +0000

it is always interesting to know each of our family history _

By: JA Benson

JA Benson — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 03:05:26 +0000

Translation of #20 from Emilia Antunes dos Santos:

I was thrilled to learn of so much information I’m sephardim, I have multiple sclerosis (or plates).
I have a sister with lupus.
I got the famous “The way of the melongeon.”( I think she’s saying I’ve got the so called “Melongeon ways”
And I am very interested in knowing more
Familial Mediterranean Fever, is a disease that we call here in Portugal : Pézinhos, it is a terrible evil.****
If this were really a miraculous medicine, it could help many people from a largely incapacitated (handicap) life
Just if you’re curious, my great-grandfather was called Ephraim, and was from Tomar, An inner city.

By: emilia antunes dos santos

emilia antunes dos santos — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:15:41 +0000

Fiquei radiante ao tomar conhecimento de tanta informação eu sou sefradita.
Tenho esclerose múltipla (ou em placas).
Tenho uma irmã com lupos.
Tenho a chamada bossa melongeon.
E estou muito interessada em saber mais…
A febre mediterranica familiar, é o que nós em Portugal chamamos doença dos pézinhos”, é um mal terrivel.
Se fosse esse milagroso medicamento, poderia ajudar muita gente de uma vida de grande incapcidade.
Só por curiosidade o meu bisavõ chamava-se Efraim, e era de Tomar. Uma cidade do interior.