Familial Mediterranean fever is no longer a rare disease in Japan

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations and prevalence of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in Japanese patients with unexplained fever and rheumatic manifestations. We enrolled 601 patients with unexplained fever or suspected FMF throughout Japan between 2009 and 2015. Patients were divided into three groups according to Tel Hashomer criteria: sure FMF, probable FMF, and non-FMF patients, including definitive rheumatic diseases. Mutation detection in exons 1, 2, 3, and 10 of the FMF gene MEFV was performed by direct sequencing. A total of 192 patients (31.9 %) were... Mehr ...