immunogenic potential of the mediterranean fever gene in patients with coronavirus disease: a cross-sectional study

Background: in december 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) became a pandemic and caused a global health crisis. this study evaluates the immunogenic potential of the mediterranean fever (mefv) gene in patients with covid-19. methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted from march to april 2020 in various covid-19 referral centers in ardabil, iran. blood samples of 50 hospitalized patients with confirmed covid-19 were evaluated for mefv gene mutation using the amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (arms-pcr) and sanger sequencing. statistical analysis was performed using spss software, version 22.0.results: mutations of the mefv gene were found in 6 (12%) of the patients. all mutations were heterozygous, and no homozygous or compound heterozygous forms were detected. the total mutant allele frequency was 6% and the carrier rate was 12%. the most common allele of the mefv variant was e148q, detected in 3 (6%) patients. no mutant variant of the mefv gene was detected in deceased patients. none of the mutation carriers had familial mediterranean fever (fmf) symptoms or a family history of fmf.conclusion: mefv gene mutations may have immunogenic potential in patients with covid-19.a preprint version of this article has already been published at https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-69373/latest.pdf.