Hereditary periodic fever syndromes: autoinflammatory diseases

High frequency of inherited variants in the MEFV gene in patients with hematologic neoplasms: a genetic susceptibility?

Familial Mediterranean fever is an autosomal recessive disease occurring in populations originating from the Mediterranean basin. This autoinflammatory syndrome is caused by mutations in the Mediterranean FeVer (MEFV) gene. MEFV encodes a 781 amino acid protein known as pyrin. Pyrin is an important modulator of apoptosis, inflammation, and cytokine processing. In more recent pilot studies, inherited variant analysis of the MEFV gene in patients with hematologic neoplasm showed an unexpectedly high frequency of these variants in the gene. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge of the relationship between inherited variants in the MEFV gene and hematologic neoplasms. Although no single underlying defect could be targeted in all hematologic neoplasms, it will be important to fully exploit the mechanisms underlying the neoplasm promoting role of inherited variants in MEFV. However, it is unclear how inherited variants in the MEFV gene are associated with tumor susceptibility or promotion in hematologic neoplasms. Further investigations are needed to determine the actual role of the MEFV gene in pathogenesis of these neoplasms.

A case of periodic-fever-syndrome-like disorder with lipodystrophy, myositis, and autoimmune abnormalities

A 24-year-old Japanese woman had been suffering from a periodic fever since 10 months of age. She developed deformities in her fingers, with severe atrophy of subcutaneous adipose tissue, myositis, and frostbitten hands. She showed elevated C-reactive protein, creatine kinase, and gamma-globulin. She was also positive for antinuclear, anti-DNA, anti-SS-B, and anti-U1RNP antibodies. Her myositis was similar to amyopathic dermatomyositis rather than juvenile dermatomyositis. Although consanguineous marriage of her parents and early onset of disease suggested her disease as a hereditary disorder with periodic fever, her clinical feature and laboratory tests were unlike any known periodic fever syndromes. Her disease was regarded as a unique type of periodic-fever-syndrome-like disorder with autoimmune abnormalities.

Cellular and genetic basis of primary immune deficiencies

Knowledge of the genetic mutations of primary immune deficiency syndromes has grown significantly over the last 30 years. In this article the authors present an overview of the clinical aspects, laboratory evaluation, and genetic defects of primary immunodeficiencies, with an emphasis on the pathophysiology of the known molecular defects. This article is designed to give the primary pediatrician a general knowledge of this rapidly expanding field.