Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a recessive disease characterized by recurrent attacks of inflammation of serosal membranes, and the gene responsible, MEFV, has been recently identified. Amyloidosis is considered to be the most severe complication. Since colchicine is effective in preventing FMF amyloidosis and since this process can develop even prior to the FMF symptoms, lifelong colchicine treatment is recommended for all FMF patients. Identification of the factor which determines amyloidosis will allow treatment to be directed only to those at risk. In order to investigate the association between amyloidosis and MEFV haplotypes, we studied 56 families from three ethnic groups. We compared the haplotypes of FMF patients with and without amyloidosis in each ethnic group separately and identified 14 different MEFV core haplotypes. A significant association (P < 0.004) was found between amyloidosis and a specific core haplotype, 153bp:104bp at markers D16S3370 and D16S2617, respectively. Amyloidosis was present in 20 out of 70 homozygotes for this haplotype and in 6 out of 35 compound heterozygotes for this and other core haplotypes. None of the patients who did not carry this allele had amyloidosis. There was no association between the various haplotypes and severity of the FMF symptoms, age of onset, or age at commencement of colchicine. Further investigation of the MEFV haplotypes in additional patients is recommended as such an association may save many mildly affected or asymptomatic patients with non-amyloidotic genotypes from receiving unnecessary lifelong colchicine treatment.
Copyright 1998 Academic Press.