Understanding Familial Mediterranean Fever

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a rare condition characterized by recurrent fevers and inflammation. Also called Undulant or Malta Fever, this disorder is concentrated in certain ethnic groups. If you belong to one of these groups, it's important to be aware of the for the sake of your family. Outside the Mediterranean area, Familial Mediterranean fever is often misdiagnosed, so if someone in your family shows signs of the condition, it may be up to you to alert the doctor to the possible cause.

Who Can Develop Familial Mediterranean Fever?

While the exact cause of familial Mediterranean fever is unknown, it's clear that it's a genetic disorder. As its name implies, it most commonly affects people of southern Mediterranean ancestry. It's most often found in Armenians, Sephardi Jews (and, more rarely, Ashkenazi Jews), Turks, Arabs, and the Lebanese. People from elsewhere in the Mediterranean, such as Italians and Greeks, may also develop FMF, but it's less common in these groups. The condition is found more often in men than in women, with a male-to-female ratio of around 1.5 or 2 to 1.

Due to the way the gene is passed on, two parents who carry the gene but have no symptoms of FMF still have a 25% percent chance of having a child who develops FMF symptoms. If someone with symptoms of FMF has a child with someone who carries the gene, but has no symptoms, the chances of passing on the condition are 50%. If two FMF patients have a child, however, the chance goes up to 100%.

Symptoms of Familial Mediterranean Fever