Familial Mediterranean cases and the review of the literature

Abstract

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by recurrent attacks of fever and serositis. The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristics of the patients with FMFs diagnosed at our hospital. Hospital records were searched retrospectively and twenty seven patients, diagnosed as having FMF during the last year were included in the study. The diagnosis of FMF was based on the Tel Hashomer diagnostic criteria. There were 17 females and 10 males, aged 4-months -49-years (mean 24.14 years) old. Only ten of the patients (37%) had a family history. The total duration of illness ranged from 1 month to 26 years (mean 8.13 years). The duration of symptoms before diagnosis ranged from 1 month to 24 years (mean 4.6 years). The age of the patienta at the onset of the attack ,ranged from 4 months to 44 years (mean 15.7 years). In all patients symptoms of the disease began before 30 years except two patients who were 44 and 31 years old. Fever and peritonitis were the most common symptoms and M694V was the most common mutation. FMF must be born in mind while evaluating a patient of any age from Afyon which is a city that consanguinious marriages are prevalent.