Can Gluten/Wheat or Other Foods be Responsible for FMF Attacks: A Survey on Self-perceived Food Sensitivity in FMF Patients

What this Trial Is About

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease caused by mutations in the MEFV gene, leading to inappropriate inflammatory responses. FMF causes recurrent episodes of fever and inflammation, with symptoms like chest, abdominal, and joint pain. Researchers are studying the possible link between FMF attacks and dietary triggers such as wheat, as well as symptoms related to gluten/wheat sensitivity not linked to celiac disease or wheat allergy, called Non-Celiac Wheat Gluten/Sensitivity (NCGS/NCWS). The study involves FMF patients and control subjects who will complete questionnaires to evaluate their demographics, genetics, clinical symptoms, and self-perceived sensitivity to wheat or other foods. The questionnaires will assess whether ingestion of wheat or other foods triggers FMF attacks or causes gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms compatible with NCGS/NCWS. The study will compare differences between FMF patients with and without these food-related triggers. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires about their symptoms and food sensitivities. Researchers will assess the prevalence of self-perceived wheat or food triggers for FMF attacks and NCGS/NCWS symptoms. They will also analyze genetic, clinical, and demographic differences among patients based on these self-reports. The study will run from May 2024 to May 2025, focusing on these outcomes to better understand the relationship between diet and FMF flare-ups.

Can Gluten/Wheat or Other Foods be Responsible for FMF Attacks