Determination of autoantibodies in patients with familial Mediterranean fever and their first degree relatives.

Sera samples of 168 patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and their 184 first degree relatives were analyzed for the presence of autoantibodies to ssDNA, dsDNA, poly (I), poly (G), cardiolipin, histones, RNP and Ro(SSA), using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A similar analysis was employed on culture fluids of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed B lymphocytes derived from patients with FMF and healthy controls. No increased incidence of these antibodies was observed among patients with FMF and their relatives compared to healthy controls. It is possible that autoimmune features observed in FMF are the result of nonspecific changes occurring in inflammation and not due to autoimmune mechanisms.