Bone mineral density in familial Mediterranean fever

Increased risk of osteoporosis and femoral neck fractures in patients with familial Mediterranean fever-a large retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

The direct impact of inflammatory conditions and their therapy with corticosteroids contribute to an increased risk of osteoporosis with associated fractures. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disorder not commonly treated with corticosteroids. Evidence regarding FMF association with osteoporosis and femur fractures is anecdotal. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk of osteoporosis and femoral neck fracture in FMF patients compared with the general population.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study using the electronic database of Clalit Health Services of all FMF patients first diagnosed between 2000 and 2016 and controls was conducted including age- and sex-matched controls in a 1:1 ratio. Follow-up continued until the first diagnosis of osteoporosis or fracture. Risk for these conditions was compared using univariate and multivariate Cox regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 9769 FMF patients were followed for a median period of 12.5 years. Of these, 304 FMF patients were diagnosed with osteoporosis compared with 191 controls, resulting in an incidence rate (per 10 000 persons-years) of 28.8 and 17.8, respectively, and a crude hazard ratio of 1.62 (95% CI 1.35, 1.93; P < 0.001). Patients were diagnosed with osteoporosis at a considerably younger age than controls [60.1 (s.d. 12.4) vs 62.5 (s.d. 11.0) years; P = 0.028]. A total of 56 FMF patients were diagnosed with femoral neck fracture compared with 35 controls, resulting in an incidence rate of 5.3 and 3.3, respectively, and a crude HR of 1.60 (95% CI 1.05, 2.44; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

FMF patients are at increased risk for osteoporosis and consequently femur fracture. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering bone health in the management of FMF patients.

Osteoporosis in Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases: A Case-Control Study

Objective: To assess if patients affected by systemic autoinflammatory diseases (SAIDs) present an increased risk of osteoporosis (OP). Methods: Forty adults patients referred to the Rheumatology Unit of Padova University Hospital affected by Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), TNF-Receptor Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS), and Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD) and 40 healthy subjects were enrolled. Blood and urine samples were collected in order to define phosphocalcic metabolism, including Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), and among inflammatory markers serum amyloid A (SAA). Femur and lumbar dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were performed and Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) was calculated on DXA lumbar images. Results: We did not observe a statistically significant difference between Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and TBS of patients compared to controls. Also, the values of phosphocalcic metabolites in patients did not statistically differ from those in controls. However, SAA and OPG levels were significantly higher in patients compared to healthy subjects (p = 0.0244 and p = 0.0064, respectively). Conclusion: Patients of our cohort affected by FMF, TRAPS, and MKD do not present an increased risk of OP compared to the healthy controls. TBS and BMD are similar between the two groups underlining a preserved bone quality in patients. High OPG levels could suggest a protective role and a bone re-balancing action in response to an inflammatory background. Finally, it should be taken into account a modulatory role played by a pro-inflammatory cytokine such as SAA on bone homeostasis.

Development of the autoinflammatory disease damage index (ADDI)

Objectives

Autoinflammatory diseases cause systemic inflammation that can result in damage to multiple organs. A validated instrument is essential to quantify damage in individual patients and to compare disease outcomes in clinical studies. Currently, there is no such tool. Our objective was to develop a common autoinflammatory disease damage index (ADDI) for familial Mediterranean fever, cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic fever syndrome and mevalonate kinase deficiency.

Methods

We developed the ADDI by consensus building. The top 40 enrollers of patients in the Eurofever Registry and 9 experts from the Americas participated in multiple rounds of online surveys to select items and definitions. Further, 22 (parents of) patients rated damage items and suggested new items. A consensus meeting was held to refine the items and definitions, which were then formally weighted in a scoring system derived using decision-making software, known as 1000minds.

Results

More than 80% of the experts and patients completed the online surveys. The preliminary ADDI contains 18 items, categorised in the following eight organ systems: reproductive, renal/amyloidosis, developmental, serosal, neurological, ears, ocular and musculoskeletal damage. The categories renal/amyloidosis and neurological damage were assigned the highest number of points, serosal damage the lowest number of points. The involvement of (parents of) patients resulted in the inclusion of, for example, chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Conclusions

An instrument to measure damage caused by autoinflammatory diseases is developed based on consensus building. Patients fulfilled a significant role in this process.

Bone Mineral Density in Egyptian Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever

BACKGROUND

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) has episodic or subclinical inflammation that may lead to a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD). The objective of this study was to assess BMD in Egyptian children with FMF on genetic basis.

METHODS

A cross sectional study included 45 FMF patients and 25 control children of both sexes in the age range between 3-16 years old. The patients were reclassified into two groups, namely group I(A) with 23 cases using colchicine for 1 month or less, and group I(B) with 22 cases using colchicine for more than 6 months. For both the patients and control groups, MEFV mutations were defined using molecular genetics technique and BMD was measured by DXA at the proximal femur and lumbar spines.

RESULTS

Four frequent gene mutations were found in the patient group E148Q (35.6%), V726A (33.3%), M680I (28.9%), and M694V (2.2%). There were also four heterozygous gene mutations in 40% of the control children. Patients receiving colchicine treatment for less than 1 month had highly significant lower values of BMD at the femur and lumbar spines than the control children (P=0.007, P<0.001). Patients receiving colchicine treatment for more than 6 months had improved values of BMD at femur compared with the control, but there were still significant differences between them in lumbar spine (P=0.036). There were insignificant effect of gene mutation type on BMD and the risk of osteopenia among the patients.

CONCLUSION

FMF had a significant effect on BMD. However, regular use of colchicine treatment improves this effect mainly at the femur.

Serum bone markers levels and bone mineral density in familial mediterranean Fever

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to measure bone mineral density, serum and urinary bone turnover parameters, and to evaluate the influence of demographic and genetic factors on these parameters in FMF patients. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-seven attack-free patients who were diagnosed with FMF (in accordance with Tel Hashomer criteria) were recruited at outpatient rheumatology clinics. We investigated whether there were any differences between the FMF patients and a control group in terms of lumbar and femur bone mineral density (BMD), standard deviation scores (Z scores and T scores) and bone markers. [Results] In terms of the median values of lumbar BMD (p = 0.21), lumbar T (p = 0.098) and Z (p = 0.109) scores, femoral neck BMD, femoral T and Z scores and total femur BMD, T (p = 0.788) and Z scores, there were no significant differences. [Conclusion] In our study, no statistically significant differences were found between FMF patients and a control group in terms of osteoporosis. The 25-OH vitamin D was found to be significantly lower in FMF patients than in the control group.