Serum sIL-2r, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-? level in familial Mediterranean fever patients

Abstract

In this study we investigated cytokine levels in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Twenty patients and 20 healthy controls were included. Ten patients had acute attacks of FMF, whereas the other 10 were in the silent period. Patients with the acute exacerbation of FMF had higher soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2r), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen levels than those in the silent period ( P<0.001) and controls ( P<0.001). In patients with acute attacks of FMF, interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were not significantly different from those in the other patients or the controls ( P>0.05). In FMF patients IL-6, TNF-alpha, sIL-2r, ESR, CRP and fibrinogen levels increased with the acute-phase reaction, especially in the attack period. On the other hand, anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels did not increase as much as did the inflammatory cytokines. The balance between the cytokines may help us to understand the pathophysiology of FMF and to develop therapies. We conclude that the levels of the acute-phase reactants and the cytokines could be useful for diagnosis of acute exacerbations, follow-up and treatment. However, the cost of cytokine measurement analyses seems disadvantageous at present.

Does Mean Platelet Volume in Children with Bronchiectasis Predict Exacerbations?

“…24 This present study is in agreement with previous studies involving chronic inflammatory diseases in which clinical remission is interrupted by acute episodes such as ulcerative colitis, 25 Crohn's disease, 26 ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, 27 and familial Mediterranean fever. 28,29 These studies reported that MPV levels were significantly lower in chronic course of the disease and the decrease is intimately correlated with the disease activity. Thus, MPV values might be used as an indicator for both chronic inflammation and acute exacerbation periods.…”

“…Thus, MPV values might be used as an indicator for both chronic inflammation and acute exacerbation periods. [25][26][27][28][29] Pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators including IL-6, interleukin-8 (IL-8), TNF-α and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) have a role in inflammatory cascade both in disease progression and in exacerbations of bronchiectasis. 30 Interleukin-6 is often used as a marker of systemic activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.…”

The role of adalimumab in the treatment of colchicine-resistant familial mediterranean fever: a case report

“…Nonetheless, previous studies have shown variable levels of TNF-alpha in FMF patients confusing the picture. Thus, their exact role has not yet been well clarified [29,30]. Despite these controversies, the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF alpha agents in the treatment of resistant FMF patients in different case reports and case series is an evidence of a potential major role of TNF-alpha in FMF pathogenesis [14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

A Case with Familial Mediterranean Fever which Responds Well to Adalimumab Treatment

“…Various studies have reported different results. [22][23][24][25] The inability to demonstrate an increase in TNF levels (upregulation) during attacks consistently and repeatedly might have been due to differences in the methodologies used and the short-life of the cytokine. [23,24] However, the in vitro stimulation of monocytes by TNF-α has been shown to cause MEFV expression.…”