Familial Mediterranean Fever — Amyloidosis and the Val726Ala Mutation

Abstract

Familial Mediterranean fever is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by acute attacks of fever and inflammation of serous tissues. The disease affects certain ethnic groups, mainly Sephardic Jews, Armenians, Turks, and Arabs.¹ Renal amyloidosis is the most severe complication and leads inevitably to chronic renal failure. Turks have severe disease with a relatively high incidence of amyloidosis as compared with other ethnic groups.^2,3