Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and acute inflammation of the membranes lining the abdomen, joints and lungs. These attacks are often short-lasting, around 1-3 days. It is important to recognise these presenting symptoms so that appropriate investigations and management can be implemented to our patients.

Although there is no cure for FMF, early treatment is often effective. Thus, better phenotyping of our patients are needed. 

Rheumatic conditions such as SLE and RA exhibit female predominance. In contrast, increasing evidence suggests that gender differences occur in axial spondyloarthritis in terms of time to diagnosis, clinical manifestations, treatment outcomes and quality of life. The exact mechanisms are still poorly understood.