Serum amyloid A (SAA) gene variations in familial Mediterranean fever

Novel structural changes in members of the serum amyloid A (SAA) gene family have been found in four patients of varied ethnic backgrounds with familial Mediterranean fever. Since the genes for these small acute phase proteins are generally well conserved, these observations suggest that alterations of serum amyloid A genes, their protein products and/or their regulation may be responsible for familial Mediterranean fever.