Autosomal dominant familial Mediterranean fever-like syndrome with amyloidosis.

We report a pedigree in which a syndrome that resembled familial Mediterranean fever occurred in four family members over three successive generations. All four patients had systemic amyloidosis. Typically, patients with familial Mediterranean fever show an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. The disorder commonly afflicts Sephardic Jews, Arabs, and persons of Turkish descent. Colchicine therapy dramatically reduces the attack rate of serositis. The family described herein is unique because of their European ethnicity and the autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Unlike typical familial Mediterranean fever, colchicine had no influence on the attacks and did not prevent amyloidosis in the three patients who received this treatment.