EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL GROWTH IN PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER

Objective: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a periodic inflammatory disease transmitted by autosomal recessive inheritance, which manifests itself as recurrent attacks of fever and polyserositis. During the period of complete clinical recovery, it has been demonstrated that subclinical inflammation endured. In this study, the aim is to evaluate the effects of subclinical inflammation on growth of children with FMF. Material and Method: Prepubertal 35 patients diagnosed with FMF were followed up during the non-attack period and received a regular colchicine treatment. 30 healthy children with similar age and gender were enrolled into the study as control group. All cases in the study group underwent a physical and laboratory evaluation at the beginning and at the end of the study (12th month). Results: All cases were within the normal percentile range of height and weight at the beginning of the study. No significant differences were recorded between the study and control groups in terms of height, weight, body mass index and body mass index standart deviation score, target height, bone age, growth rate, standard deviation score, serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and serum insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) (p>0.05) at the beginning and during follow-up period. A negative correlation was detected between erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum IGFBP-3 level. Conclusions: It was determined that growth rate and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 did not differ from their peers; but children with FMF receiving regular colchicine treatment showed lower levels of serum IGFBP-3.