--- title: Do girls with familial Mediterranean fever have more PMS symptoms? description: Overall they have fewer PMS symptoms, but the symptoms they do have are linked to inflammation and disease activity. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-and-inflammatory-activity-in-adolescent-familial-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do girls with familial Mediterranean fever have more PMS symptoms? Case-control study, 2026 # Do girls with familial Mediterranean fever have more PMS symptoms? Overall they have fewer PMS symptoms, but the symptoms they do have are linked to inflammation and disease activity. Moderate study design 40 adolescent girls ages 12-18 with familial Mediterranean fever and 40 healthy controls ## What they did Cross-sectional study comparing 40 adolescent girls with familial Mediterranean fever to 40 healthy girls. Researchers measured PMS symptoms, disease activity, and inflammation markers. ## What they found Girls with familial Mediterranean fever had lower PMS frequency and severity overall. However, their PMS symptoms correlated with disease attacks and inflammation. White blood cell count, CRP, and ESR were higher in those with PMS. Girls with PMS were also less likely to take their medication regularly. ## What it means for you In girls with this inflammatory condition, PMS appears linked to inflammation. The anti-inflammatory medication they take may reduce PMS by controlling inflammation. This is a small study of a rare condition, so results may not apply to PMS in the general population. 40 vs 40 girls with and without familial Mediterranean fever r = 0.368 PMS-disease activity correlation ## About the study Original title Premenstrual syndrome and inflammatory activity in adolescent familial Mediterranean fever Authors Aliyeva N, Ünal D, Kızılkan MP et al. Journal Rheumatology (Oxford, England) Year 2026 Study design Case-control study What was tested None (observational study) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keag169](https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keag169) Original abstract Objectives: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) comprises physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms occurring during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle that impair quality of life. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disorder marked by chronic inflammation and recurrent attacks. This study aimed to assess the frequency and severity of PMS in adolescents with FMF, its association with disease activity, inflammatory markers and treatment adherence, and to compare findings with healthy peers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2024 and February 2025. Forty adolescent girls (12-18 years) with FMF and 40 age-matched healthy controls participated. The Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS) was administered to all; in the FMF group, the Autoinflammatory Disease Activity Index (AIDAI) and colchicine adherence were also assessed. Attack frequency, menstrual features and inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and white blood cell count (WBC)] and regular colchicine use were analysed. Results: PMS frequency (P = 0.012) and severity (P = 0.032) were overall lower in the FMF group. However, PMS scores correlated positively with attack frequency and AIDAI (r = 0.368, P = 0.019), and ESR, CRP and WBC were higher in PMS-positive individuals. PMS-positive patients also demonstrated significantly poorer medication adherence, with higher rates of forgetting doses and discontinuing colchicine. Conclusion: PMS severity in adolescents with FMF appears linked to disease activity and inflammation. The observed relationship is consistent with an inflammatory contribution to PMS, while colchicine therapy may be associated with lower symptom burden through improved inflammation control. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Lab study, 2026 Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD? Study, 2026 What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms? 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