Evaluation of arterial stiffness with plasma GGT levels and pulse wave velocity measurement in patients with FMF

Arterial Stiffness and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurements in Children With Familial Mediterranean Fever

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease which may cause endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness. In this study, we evaluated patients with FMF in terms of arterial stiffness indicators and investigated whether there was any difference according to colchicine response. This is a single-center, prospective, case-control study conducted on pediatric patients with FMF. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: patients on colchicine monotherapy (group 1) and patients who used anti-interleukin-1 (IL-1) plus colchicine (group 2). Patient age, mutations in the MEFV gene, overall duration of treatments, and general characteristics of symptoms were recorded. Laboratory values in an attack-free period were noted. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured in all patients. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, nocturnal hypertension, and PWV were higher in group 2. Arterial stiffness develops due to subclinical inflammation in patients with FMF. It is more pronounced in colchicine-resistant patients.

Assessment of vascular damage in children and young adults with Familial Mediterranean Fever

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is the most frequent autoinflammatory disease. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of subclinical vascular damage in FMF children, and young adults, using both imaging and laboratory tests. Forty-five FMF patients (mean age 14.3 ± 9.5 years, 33 children) and 44 healthy controls(mean age 13.3 ± 8.6 years, 36 children) were included in the study. The patients were diagnosed according to Tel-Hashomer criteria, were positive for MEFV gene mutation, were treated with colchicine and were evaluated during an attack free-period. The arterial stiffness parameters studied were carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), Augmentation Index (Aix), subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Laboratory parameters, inflammation markers and lipid profile were also evaluated for all participants. There were no significant differences between patients and healthy individuals, as well as in our children population regarding PWV, SEVR, Aix and cIMT. However, significantly higher ESR, CRP and fibrinogen levels were detected in the total population of FMF patients and higher amyloid levels in FMF children, compared to controls. Atherogenic Index of Plasma was significantly higher both in the total patient population and in the subgroup of children, compared to controls. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between Aix and CRP and a negative correlation between SEVR and ESR became apparent in the pediatric subgroup. Our study demonstrated no significant differences in vascular measurements between FMF patients and controls. The above could be attributed to the regular colchicine treatment, which seems to have a cardioprotective role against vascular damage.

Does Familial Mediterranean Fever Provoke Atherosclerosis in Children? Evaluation of Arterial Stiffness and Serum Endocan Levels

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the risk for atherosclerosis by using echocardiographic arterial stiffness (AS) parameters and serum endocan levels, as a biomarker of endothelial dysfunction (ED) in children with FMF.

METHODS

Seventy-nine children with FMF (12-18 years) and 41 healthy children were included, and clinical features (age at the first attack, age at the time of diagnosis, diagnosis delay time, colchicine dose, biological agent usage, MEFV mutations, and symptoms of attacks) of patients were noted. Arterial stiffness parameters were calculated by using echocardiographic aortic measurements with blood pressure monitoring. Hemogram parameters, acute phase reactants, blood glucose and lipid levels of 12 hours of fasting, and serum endocan levels were evaluated for all participants.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significance regarding demographic features, acute phase reactants, and hemogram parameters. Blood glucose and lipid levels were similar, except for HDL (lower in FMF group, p=0.029). Serum endocan levels did not differ in two groups (p=0.906). Only stiffness of descending aorta was lower in FMF group (p=0.028), and the other AS parameters were similar between two groups (p>0.05 for each parameters).

CONCLUSION

Good disease control could be preventive for atherosclerosis in children with FMF. On the other hand, screening for cardiovascular diseases is essential, particularly for uncontrolled cases. Distribution of MEFV gene mutations KEY POINTS: • Exaggerated inflammation is the prominent feature of FMF attacks; moreover, it is shown that subclinical inflammation might also continue in attack-free periods. • Chronic inflammation contributes to atherosclerotic process in almost all stages by activating endothelial cells, producing reactive oxygen species, and accelerating foam cell and atherosclerotic plaque formations. • However, the results of this study showed that there was no difference in terms of atherosclerotic markers such as serum endocan levels and arterial stiffness parameters between pediatric FMF patients and healthy peers. • Good disease control in pediatric FMF patients may prevent early atherosclerotic changes during childhood, which then may lead a probable decreased risk of subsequent CVD in adulthood.

Familial Mediterranean fever and atherosclerosis in childhood and adolescence

Familial Mediterranean fever is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by periodic and self-limited episodes of fever and aseptic polyserositis. Although colchicine treatment has altered the course of the disease, it is believed that subclinical inflammation is still present, leading to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in the course of time. In this review, following the published recommendations, we queried online databases such as MEDLINE Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of science for peer-reviewed studies and reviews written in English language, using the following keywords: familial Mediterranean fever, children, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease. The objective of this review is to highlight the correlation between familial Mediterranean fever and atherosclerosis, and moreover to describe new serum inflammatory markers and non-invasive methods of endothelial dysfunction, to detect the atherosclerosis process early starting from childhood.

Arterial stiffness in Familial Mediterranean Fever: correlations with disease-related parameters and colchicine treatment

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

Familial Mediterranean Fever is the most common autoinflammatory disease. As chronic inflammation may result in increased arterial stiffness, we aimed to investigate indices of arterial stiffness in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever and their associations with disease-related factors and colchicine treatment.

METHOD

The study was conducted with 43 patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever, including 30 children, in attack free period and 42 healthy controls. Arterial stiffness was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and augmentation index.

RESULTS

Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever presented similar carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity values to controls, but significantly higher augmentation index values (patients versus controls, 19.76% and 9.96%, P < 0.05). Augmentation index, adjusted for age and sex, was associated with complete response compared with partial response to treatment (B = - 17.78, 95% CI - 31.17 to - 4.40, P < 0.05) and the presence of M694V.M680I genotype (B = - 16.75, 95% CI - 33.81 to 0.30, P = 0.05). Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity presented an inverse relationship with colchicine treatment duration (B = - 0.003, 95% CI - 0.006 to - 0.00, P < 0.05). Pulse wave velocity values adjusted for age and systolic blood pressure were associated with attack frequency (B = 0.48, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.96, P < 0.05). Addition of colchicine treatment duration to the model attenuated the association between carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and attack frequency supporting the protective role of colchicine.

CONCLUSIONS

The normal values of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in Familial Mediterranean Fever patients may reflect the compliance to colchicine treatment, which seems to have a protective role against arterial stiffness. However, the increased values of augmentation index need further investigation.

KEY POINTS

• FMF patients are prone to present increased cardiovascular risk possibly due to inflammation. • Colchicine treatment may have protective role against arterial stiffness in FMF. • The normal values of cf-PWV in FMF patients may reflect the compliance to colchicine.

The relation of novel cardiovascular risk parameters in patients with familial Mediterranean fever

Objective

In this study, we aimed at correlating the thickness of epicardial adipose tissue and levels of Vitamin D with cardiac risk in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Methods

Sixty-five patients with familial Mediterranean fever and 38 healthy controls with matching age and sex were included in the study. The patients with a history of familial Mediterranean fever attacks within the previous two weeks or with any history of inflammatory or cardiovascular disease were excluded. Data regarding age, gender, weight, height, waist circumference, body mass index (calculated as weight/height²), pulse wave velocity, serum Vitamin D levels from fasting blood samples, and Homeostatic Model Assessment for insulin resistance were obtained for the patients and controls. The epicardial adipose tissue was visualized as an echo-free space between the outer surface of myocardium and visceral pericardium using two-dimensional echocardiography, and the thickness of epicardial adipose tissue was measured in parasternal long-axis view at the end of diastole.

Results

The patients with familial Mediterranean fever had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein, epicardial adipose tissue, and pulse wave velocity (p < 0.001, <0.05, <0.005, respectively) as compared with the control group. However, the serum Vitamin D levels in the two groups were observed to be similar (p = 0.486). Weak but significant positive correlations were observed between epicardial adipose tissue thickness and C-reactive protein (r = 0.302, p < 0.005), epicardial adipose tissue thickness and pulse wave velocity (r = 0.263, p < 0.01), and C-reactive protein and pulse wave velocity (r = 0.235, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Thickness of epicardial adipose tissue and pulse wave velocity were observed to increase in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Evaluation of Subclinical Atherosclerosis by Ultrasound Radiofrequency Data Technology in Patients With Familial Mediterranean Fever

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to noninvasively demonstrate the presence of early risk associated with subclinical inflammatory activity in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) who had stable disease, using ultrasound (US) radiofrequency data technology.

METHODS

A total of 110 participants, including 55 patients with FMF and 55 healthy control participants, were evaluated with Doppler US. The intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness were measured from bilateral common carotid arteries (CCAs) by the radiofrequency method.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference was found between the patients with FMF and controls in terms of the right and left CCA intima-media thickness, distensibility coefficient, compliance coefficient, α and β stiffness indices, and pulsed wave velocity (P > .05). Symptom duration and diagnosis and treatment time of the patients with FMF had a negative correlation with the distensibility and compliance measurements obtained by Doppler US (r = -0.324 and -0.303), and a positive (r = 0.380 and 0.339) and statistically significant relationship was detected between the α stiffness index, β stiffness index, and pulsed wave velocity (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Common carotid artery intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness measurements can aid in early prediction of cardiovascular disease development in patients with FMF. Radiofrequency data technology provides a noninvasive method for accurately and quantitatively showing the CCA intima-media thickness elevation and the decrease in vascular elasticity in patients with FMF.