Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a genetic disorder causing recurring episodes of pain and inflammation in the abdomen, chest, joints, and skin, accompanied by fever. It primarily affects people of Mediterranean descent, including Arab, Armenian, Turkish, and Sephardic Jewish populations. There are two types:
Symptoms of AiArthritis Diseases Regardless of Diagnosis
“Auto” Symptoms
Reference: Early Symptoms of AiArthritis Study, AiArthritis, 2019.
Typically the joint pain will coincide with one or more “Auto” symptoms and start and stop suddenly - for no apparent reason (which is called a "flare"). Some people will experience all of the above symptoms, others only a few. If you have any of the arthritis features, and at least one of the “Auto” features, please consult your physician about a referral to a rheumatologist.
Symptoms Often Associated with Familial Mediterranean Fever:
What fellow patients want you to know
Do you have FMF? Let us know what YOU would want those others or those who are not yet diagnosed to know!
There’s no single definitive test that can confirm a Familial Mediterranean Fever diagnosis, so rheumatologists look at a combination of physical exam, genetic testing for MEFV gene, along with a family history of autoimmune or autoinflammatory disease and ethnicity. Although, testing for MEFV is needed, not having a mutation the gene does not rule out FMF. Doctors may also start patients on Colchicine to see how they react, if they improve, it is likely they have FMF.
Tel-Hashomer criteria are also used in diagnosis. For diagnosis, patients must have more than 1 major criteria or more than 2 minor criteria.
Major criteria:
Attacks of:
Minor criteria:
Typical attacks are recurrent (at least 3 episodes of the same type), febrile (rectal temperature ≥ 38° C), and short in duration (12 hours to 3 days). ncomplete attacks are painful and recurrent. They differ from typical attacks in 1 or 2 features:
In an effort to ensure this page has the most accurate and up-to-date information, this page is currently awaiting medical review. Some information is subject to change.
Page Last Updated: 9/1/2023
International Foundation for AiArthritis
6605 Nottingham Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63109-2661
Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Information on this site is intended for informational purposes only Our foundation does not engage in the practice of medicine. Please consult a physician to obtain personal healthcare and treatment options. 501(c) 3 Nonprofit Tax ID: 27-1214308.