Mediterranean fever gene (MEFV)

The MEFV gene provides instructions for making a protein called pyrin, which helps regulate inflammation and the immune system’s response to threats like infections. Mutations or changes in this gene can disrupt its normal function, leading to an abnormal inflammatory response. This condition, known as familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), causes episodes of fever and inflammation, often in the abdomen, chest, or joints. FMF is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning a person needs two copies of the mutated gene to develop symptoms. Understanding MEFV helps diagnose and manage this hereditary inflammatory disorder.