Familial Mediterranean Fever

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Abstract
Seventeen patients with familial Mediterranean fever were treated with a 20-g fat diet or the same diet with long-chain unsaturated fats ad libitum from 2 to 24 months. The number of febrile paroxysms was considerably reduced. In blind trials with disguised butter or corn oil feedings the former but not the latter were followed by fever and pain. No abnormalities in plasma lipids were found. Abnormalities in the plasma proteins, notably the total serum glycoprotein and plasma fibrinogen concentrations, were found in the patients and also in a large percentage of 26 asymptomatic relatives. The protein abnormalities in the relatives support the view that this disease is due to an inborn error in metabolism, but the protein abnormalities are not a constant nor direct reflection of the carrier state. It is suggested that a pyrogenic steroid other than etiocholanolone causes attacks of fever and independently of the latter abnormal protein synthesis which may also cause amyloidosis.

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