New interest in an old disease: familial Mediterranean fever.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and serositis. Identifying the mutated gene has shed light on the pathogenesis of the disease. Typical attacks of FMF last 3 to 5 days. Arthritis is present in almost half of all patients and is localized to the ankle, knee or hip. Recently vasculitic features have been increasingly reported in FMF patients, and it may be speculated that vasculitis constitutes a feature of this disease. Genetic analysis is very important to confirm the diagnosis in patients with a European ancestry. However, at present the yield of genetic testing is not satisfactory; new sequencing techniques permitting more rapid screening and definition of all mutations are necessary. Colchicine is the drug of choice. A trial of colchicine may also help in the differential diagnosis with other periodic fever syndromes.