health

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited inflammatory disorder
that causes repeated episodes of fever, inflammation, and pain. The
episodes develop over two to four hours and may last from several hours
to several days. The periods of illness usually resolve without treatment
but may damage body organs over time.
The gene associated with FMF is called the Mediterranean fever gene
(MEFV). FMF is inherited and develops in individuals who get two copies
of the recessive MEFV gene from their parents. Individuals with one copy
of the gene are considered carriers of the disease. The children of two carriers
have a 25 percent chance of having the disease, the children of a carrier
and someone with FMF have a 50 percent chance of having the disease,
and children of two FMF individuals are certain to have the disease. FMF is
seen among only certain ethnic populations, and it is not as widely known
in the United States. The symptoms associated with FMF may resemble
symptoms of other more common medical disorders and be misdiagnosed.