Mediterranean fever gene mutations in Greek patients with Behcet's disease.
OBJECTIVE
It is known that clinical similarities between Behcet's disease and Familial Mediterranean Fever have led to the hypothesis of a common pathogenesis. Familial Mediterranean Fever is caused by MEFV gene mutations coding for pyrin. Therefore, we examined whether these pyrin mutations are also associated with Behcet's disease.


METHODS
Molecular testing for pyrin mutations was performed in 96 unrelated Greek patients with an established diagnosis of Behcets disease. The results were compared with an analysis for pyrin mutations in 140 unrelated healthy Greek controls.


RESULTS
We found no pyrin mutations among the Behcet cases tested; this result is comparable with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Pyrin gene mutations in Greek patients with Behcet's disease are not more common than those in the general population. This finding is not in agreement with the findings in other populations. It is suggested that screening for pyrin mutations not be included in the evaluation of Greeks suspected to have Behcet's disease.
First Department of Medicine, University of Athens School of Medicine at Laikon Hospital, Athens, Greece. kkonstan@med.uoa.gr
K
K
Konstantopoulos
E
E
Kanta
V
V
Papadopoulos
P
P
Kaklamanis
M
M
Hatzinikolaou
V
V
Kalotychou
A
A
Kanta
V
V
Kapsimali
G
G
Vaiopoulos
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D000071198:Pyrin; D055815:Young Adult
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C000604192:MEFV protein, human; D000071198:Pyrin