Sonoelastographic evaluation of the liver and the kidney in adult patients with familial mediterranean fever

Objective: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is the most common autoinflammatory diseases, including in Turkey, is a major health problem in countries bordering the eastern Mediterranean. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible tissue stiffness changes in the liver and spleen in adult FMF patients with shear wave elastography (SWE) and to evaluate its usability as an additional advantage in clinical follow-up. Materials and Methods: Seventy five adult FMF patients and 73 adult healty volunteers were included in the study. Patients were examined by 2-D SWE method through the intercostal space where the liver and spleen could be clearly seen. Parenchymal stiffness of the liver and spleen was measured in kPa as the stiffness value. The differences between the stiffness values of the liver and spleen between the two groups were examined. Results: Liver stiffness value (LSV) was found to be statistically significantly higher in the group with FMF. Although the spleen stiffness value (SSV) was found higher in the group with FMF, the difference between the groups is not statistically significant. Conclusions: In the future, the increase in stiffness in the liver parenchyma in patients with FMF can be quantitatively demonstrated by the 2-D SWE method, and SWE can be used as an auxiliary imaging method in the follow-up of patients with FMF for this purpose. The LSV and SSV measurements obtained in the current study can be used as reference stiffness values for both the control and FMF.