An autosomal recessive disorder in which patients suffer repeated febrile illnesses without evidence of infection. It occurs most often in people of Middle Eastern, Irish, or Italian descent. Symptomatic attacks typically begin at around ages 5 to 15, often consisting of fever, joint pains, abdominal pain resembling peritonitis, pleurisy or pericarditis, and rashes (although individual symptoms may vary). Duration and frequency of the attacks can be unpredictable. About 40% of patients ultimately develop amyloidosis.
SYN: recurrent polyserositis

familial Mediterranean fever is a sample definition found in Taber's Medical Dictionary, the world's best-selling health sciences dictionary.

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