Mevalonate kinase belongs to the GHMP kinase family, Mevalonate kinase subfamily. It can be found in a wide variety of organisms from bacteria to mammals. Mevalonate kinase may be a regulatory site in cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Defects in mevalonate kinase can cause mevalonic aciduria (MEVA). It is an accumulation of mevalonic acid which causes a variety of symptoms such as psychomotor retardation, dysmorphic features, cataracts, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, anemia, hypotonia, myopathy, and ataxia. Defects in mevalonate kinase can also cause hyperimmunoglobulinemia D and periodic fever syndrome (HIDS). HIDS is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent episodes of unexplained high fever associated with skin rash, diarrhea, adenopathy (swollen, tender lymph nodes), athralgias and/or arthritis.
