Objective: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease, and it is characterized by recurrent inflammatory attacks of the serous membranes which cause periodic abdominal pain, fever and joint pain. The physiopathology of the disease seems more complex than it has been known. It has been considered that various cytokines have also played role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of cytokines in the development of the disease by comparing cytokine levels in controls and in active and passive periods of the disease in Van region.

Materials and Methods: The study included 157 patients aged 5-15 years. The patients were divided into two groups as active (n = 81) and passive (n = 76) according to their clinical findings. In addition, 30 children were included in the study as a control group.

Results: The level of IL-1β in the active group was found higher than that of the control group, the levels of IL-8, TNF-α and CRP were higher both in the active and in the passive group than the controls (p <0.05). While the levels of IL-6 both in the active and in the passive group were higher than those of the control group, the level of active group was also significantly higher than that of the passive group (p <0,001).

Conclusion: The results of this study thought that, the levels of IL-8, TNF-α, CRP and especially IL-6 could be used in the diagnosis of acute attack and monitoring the response to the treatment. However, increased cytokine levels in the passive period have supported the view that the subclinical inflammation has continued in these patients.