Assesing cardiac functions of familial mediterranean fever with echocardiography

Objectives: In our study FMF patients who are in the attack-free period and who do not have the risk factors of coronery arter disease are evaluated. Transtorasic echocardiography and systolic and diastolic heart functions of the patiens were assesed.Materials and Methods: Fourty four patients, 24 male, mean age 32.8 ± 7.5, who are in the attack-free period and control group consisting 42 healty volunteers, 22 male, mean age 32.8 ± 7.5, were included to the study. Left ventricul diameters, left ventricular mass index, left and right ventriculs diastolic functions and myocard performance index of all individuals were obtained with conventional ecocardiography and tissue doppler methods in the study. Approximate age for the beginning of the disease, age diagnosis, all the findings for the disease, the usage time of colchicine, taken dosage of colchicine, regular medicine usage, genetic analyses, kidney function tests, serum electrolits and total blood counting was designated.Results: Number of white blood cells, platelet number, CPR and uric acid amount of the patients were significantly high compared to control group. HDL-cholesterol of patients with FMF were significantly lower compared to control group (p<0.05). MPV, PDW, sedimentation and glucose amounts of the patients were significantly higher compared to control group (p<0.05). Fibrinogen of the patients was 276 ± 49.4 mg/dl.Mitral E velocity, mitral DT, tricuspid E velocity, tricuspid E/A ratio, pulmoner S velocity ve pulmoner D velocity, İVRT, İVKT and MPİ are significantly different in each groups (p<0.05). MPİ ve İVRT of the patients were significantly higher than the control group. (p<0.001)Mitral Sm, Em, Am velocities, mitral Em/Am ratio ve tricuspid St velocity were similar in both of the groups. Tricuspid Et, At velocity and tricuspid Et/At ratio are significantly different in each groups (p<0.05). In the patients group tricuspid Et velocity and tricuspid Et/At ratio was lower than the control group.Conclusion: Regular colchicine treatment for patients with FMF prevents the attacks however subclinic inflamation persists. At least to prevent the inflamation partially, colchicine should be used. In our study we realised there is a dissolution in the left and right ventriculs diastolic functions of the patients with FMF. We think that regular examination and ecocardiographic screening of the patients with FMF is necessary.