Serum lipid changes and insulin resistance in familial Mediterranean fever

OBJECTIVE

Inflammation is known to alter lipid profiles and to induce insulin resistance. This study was planned to test the hypothesis that familial Mediterranean ferver (FMF) patients and their first-degree asymptomatic relatives may have lipid profile changes and/or insulin resistance, similar to other inflammatory diseases.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We studied 72 FMF patients, 30 asymptomatic first-degree relatives, and 75 healthy controls. Fasting and 2-hour postprandial glucose, insulin, apolipoprotein (Apo) A1, Apo B, acute phase reactants, and lipid profiles of all subjects were studied. Insulin resistance was determined by the HOMA (Homeostasis Model Assessment) index.

RESULTS

There was no difference between the groups with regard to sex, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking status, fasting and postprandial 2-hour glucose, insulin, acute phase reactants, and HOMA index levels. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were similar between FMF patients and FMF relatives (48.9±12.4 mg/dL vs 49.3±13.8 mg/dL; p=NS), and both were lower than controls (48.9±12.4 mg/dL vs 59.6±15.1 mg/dL; p<0.001 and 49.3±13.8 mg/dL vs 59.8±15.1 mg/dL; p=0.001, respectively). Apo A1 levels in FMF patients and asymptomatic first-degree FMF relatives were both lower than in controls, similar to the HDL-C levels (126.1±25.7 mg/dL vs 151.2±31.4 mg/dL; p<0.001 and 129.5±29.0 mg/dL vs 151.2±31.4 mg/dL; p=0.002, respectively). TG levels were significantly higher in FMF relatives as compared to controls (113.4±53.6 mg/dL vs 97.1± 54.9 mg/dL; p=0.025).

CONCLUSION

Low HDL-C and low Apo A1 levels are found in FMF patients and their first-degree asymptomatic relatives. Low-grade inflammation caused by MEFV mutations may be responsible for these lipid profile changes.

Inflammatory myopathies: One-center experience

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to report our experience with inflammatory myositis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In total, 60 patients were evaluated retrospectively, and 43 of them (71.7%) were female. The median age was 45 (17-81). Of all patients, 33 (55%) were diagnosed as polymyositis, 22 (36.6%) as dermatomyositis (classical, amyopathic, and malignancy-associated), and 5 (8.33%) as undifferentiated myositis. The 3 patients with malignancy-associated dermatomyositis had lung cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and endometrial cancer. Two patients with polymyositis had a history of low-grade gastric mixed tumor and thymoma but were diagnosed 7 and 12 years ago, and no recurrences have been reported during the routine controls.

RESULTS

All patients, other than two with malignancy-associated dermatomyositis, were treated via immunosuppressive agent, and the third patient with lung cancer was diagnosed later and gave up immunosuppressive therapy. Thirty-nine (65%) of the patients were treated via oral low-dose steroid, and 19 (31.7%) were treated via intravenous high-dose pulse steroid therapy. All patients were treated with steroid, which was tapered by time, and 23 (38.3%) were treated with azathioprine, 6 (10%) were treated with cyclophosphamide, 3 (5%) were treated with methotrexate, and 6 (10%) were treated with isolated steroid therapy at the time of diagnosis. The median follow-up period was 37 (2-135) months. Six patients (10%) have died-3 due to myocardial infarction, 1 due to septic shock, 1 due to malignancy, and 1 with an unknown reason. The 5-year survival rate was 76.9%, and the 10-year survival rate was 40%.

CONCLUSION

Other than the high ratio of PM in our series, all other results were compatible with the literature. We faced few resistant diseases; therefore, biologic agents were used rarely.