RESUMEN
This prospective study was conducted over a period of three years on 46 children with familial Mediterranean fever [FMF] diagnosed mainly on a clinical basis aiming to detect some epidemiological and clinical parameters as well as to assess some biochemical markers of prognostic value. Their ages ranged between 3 and 14 years with a mean of 7 + 2.98 years and they were 29 males and 17 females. Twenty-five healthy children with ages ranging between 3 and 12 years served as a control group. Patients and controls were subjected to detailed history taking, thorough clinical examination and investigations including CBC, acute phase reactants, dopamine beta hydroxylase [DbH] plasma activity, serum and urinary etiocholanolone and urine analysis for evidence of proteinuria. The results of this study revealed that the severity and prognosis of the disease are inversely related to age at onset. Maleness may carry the risk of severity or poor prognosis. Moreover, the biochemical markers, especially SA-A, glucoproteins and DbH activity are important prognostic markers as well as they are imperative in the follow up of FMF patients on therapy