THE IMMUNE-SYSTEM IN FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 53  (3) , 659-662
Abstract
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a genetic disorder with an obscure etiology. In attempts to investigate a possible immunoregulatory imbalance involved in this disease, 24 FMF patients were tested for suppressor T cell activity and for chemotaxis of mononuclear cells. The suppressor T cell activity and chemotaxis were decreased in untreated FMF patients as compared to colchicine treated patients or normal controls. Amyloid FMF patients manifested significantly increased chemotactic activity, while the suppressor T cell activity was normal. This finding may extend the knowledge concerning the immune mechanism involved in FMF.