Biorhythms longer than the circadian that influence reactions of people and characterizes some diseases have not received much medical attention. The lay press describes cycles of 23, 28 and 33 days said to regulate moods, intellectual ability and efficiency, respectively. Whether or not three overlapping cycles actually regulate three different vague reactions may be questioned. Of interest, however, are rhythms of similar tempo which control mensis, cyclic changes in male hormones and a number of periodic diseases. Although reports of more than 2500 cases of periodic diseases have been published, physicians generally are skeptical on the subject. Incorrect diagnosis leads to unnecessary testing, surgical exploration and medication.

Biological Clocks↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Periodic peritonitis, amyloidosis and colchicine.

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Amyloidosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Periodic (Pel-Ebstein) fever of lymphomas.

During lymphomatous diseases, bouts of intermittent or relapsing Pel-Ebstein fever occasionally repeat in remarkably regular tempo resembling the episodes of benign periodic fever. Febrile episodes alone, especially during acute lymphomatous disease, occasionally precede overt evidence of underlying disease for months. In that event, diagnosis and treatment of lymphomas are delayed. Regular febrile bouts are either uniquely characteristic of lymphomas or represent the imposition of periodic fever. Apprehension of malignant disease during benign periodic fever may induce intensive investigation. Malignant disease has not ensued in reported cases of periodic fever.

Adult↗