Determining the relationship between serum interlokin-37 level and clinical features of the disease in Family Mediterranean Fever patients

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent episodes of fever, peritonitis, pleuritis, arthritis, and skin rash. The cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is the principal mediator of inflammatory bursts abserved during FMF attacks. IL-37 is a member of IL-1 family and acts as a natural inhibitor of inflammation.. Herein, we aimed to investigate potential association between IL-37 and clinical characteristics of FMF by determining serum IL-37 levels. Patients diagnosed with FMF using Tel Hashomer criteria at the Gazi University Hospital Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic were included in this crossectional studt. The control group included healthy subjects aged between 18 to 65 with a body mass index of < 30 kg/m2. There was no statistically significant difference in IL-37 levels between FMF patients and healthy subjects. Serum IL-37 levels was negatively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate in FMF patients, but there was no correlation with other inflammatory markers. Serum IL-37 was significantly different in FMF patients with arthritis, myalgia and skin rash compared with those not having these features (p≤0.05). For better characterization of the role of IL-37 in FMF pathogenesis, studies with large number of patients and measurement of IL-37 during attacks are needed.