Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome components on familial mediterranean fever patients

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disease with recurrent serocitis attacks and fever. It is commonly seen on non-askenasik Jews, Armenians, Turks and Arabs. While mutations of Familial Mediterranean Fever Gene (MEFV) trigger inflammation and this inflammation also continues in the non-attack period of FMF. Inflammation has a role in the development of insulin resistance. This study is aimed to determine the frequency of insulin resistance and to evaluate the metabolic syndrome components in patients with FMF. 68 FMF patients (male/female: 38/30), 30 Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) patients (male/female: 17/13) and 37 healthy controls (male/female:20/17) were included in the study. Fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profile, acute-phase reactants and postprandial blood glucose levels were examined. Blood pressure, waist circumference, height and weight measures were evaluated and noted. While insulin resistance was determined by HOMA (homeostasis model assesment) index, metabolic syndrome was defined according to criterias of NCEP ATP 3. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the rates of age, gender, blood pressure, fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, lipid profile and CRP (C reactive protein) among the groups. Waist circumference and body mass index were relatively higher with significant proportion (p=0.001) in the AS patients than healthy controls and FMF patients. Insulin resistance was proportionally higher with the significant rate (p=0.01) in FMF patients who has homosygous M694V mutation than than healthy controls. In comparison to FMF patients, metabolic syndrome was higher with the significant rate (p=0.001) in the AS patients. In this study, insulin resistance was detected in higher rates in FMF patients who has M694V mutation. This situation might be critical cause of high atherosclerosis rates in FMF patients. Key words: Familial Mediterranean Fever, inflammation, insulin resistance, M694V mutation, ankylosing spondylitis.