Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Oxidized LDL Levels in Familial Mediterranean Fever

Objective: To investigate markers of carotid atherosclerosis and oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL) levels in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) who have no risk factors for cardiovascular disease.Method: It was included 44 patients (25 F/19 M; mean age: 33.5±7.5) with FMF in attack free period and gender and age matched 44 healthy subjects (25 F/19 M; mean age: 33.4±7.0). The patients with clinical coronary artery disease, chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, history of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, cerebrovascular disease, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, active infection, those in postmenopausal period, and those using anti-lipid drugs were excluded. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (C-IMT) was measured and investigated atherosclerotic plaques in the carotids by using doppler ultrasound. Serum lipid and OxLDL levels were also assessed. Data were analyzed with the SPSS program and p<0.05 were accepted as significant.Result: Mean disease duration of the FMF patients was 20±9 years. The mean C-IMT did not differ between the patient and control groups (0.52±0.10 mm, 0.53±0.06 mm, respectively, p=0.709). None of the patients or controls had atherosclerotic plaques. Total and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the patient group compared to the controls (total cholesterol: 157.07±34.18, 181.05±36.79, respectively, p=0.002; LDL cholesterol: 100.48±30.13, 126.25±34.05, respectively, p=0.001). However, we found that OxLDL levels were significantly higher in FMF patients compared to control group (337.48±438.56 ng/dl, 156.19±383.24 ng/dl, p=0.044). No correlation was found between C-IMT and OxLDL levels in both patients (p=0.324) and controls (p=0.246).Conclusion: Our study provides further evidence for no increased atherosclerosis in FMF. As previously shown, FMF patients have lower cholesterol levels compared to healthy controls. On the other hand, increased OxLDL levels could be associated with increased subclinical inflammation.

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