Familial Mediterranean fever is a disorder passed down through families (inherited), which involves repeated fevers and inflammation that often affects the abdomen or lungs.

The cause of familial Mediterranean fever is unknown. It usually affects people of Mediterranean ancestry, especially non-Ashkenazi (Sephardic) Jews, Armenians, and Arabs, although people from other ethnic groups may also be affected.

Symptoms usually begin between age 5 and 15. Inflammation in the lining of the abdominal cavity, chest cavity, skin, or joints occurs, along with high fevers that usually peak in 12 to 24 hours. Attacks may vary in severity of symptoms, and people are usually symptom free between attacks.

This disease is very rare. Risk factors include a family history of familial Mediterranean fever or having Mediterranean ancestry.

• Fever or alternating chills and fever (relapsing)
• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain that occurs repeatedly (recurrent)
• Recurrent abdominal pain, recurrent
• Recurrent joint pain
  • Pain in hip, knee, ankle, shoulder elbow or wrist
  • Pain over the small joints of the foot or hand
  • Pain in other joints
• Skin lesions that are red and swollen and range from 5-20 cm in diameter

There is no specific test to diagnose this disease. Sometimes analysis of the chromosomes can help. Ruling out other possible diseases using laboratory tests or x-rays will help determine the diagnosis.

Certain blood tests may be higher-than-normal when done during an attack. They include:

• White blood cell count
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
• Plasma fibrinogen
• Serum haptoglobin
• Ceruloplasmin
• C-reactive protein