Interferon-gamma levels in familial Mediterranean fever.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the levels of endogenous interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).


METHODS
Plasma levels of IFN-gamma were assayed in 29 FMF patients in attack-free period (mean age: 32, min-max: 17-48; male/female: 10/19), 18 FMF patients with acute FMF attack (mean age: 32, min-max: 19-50; male/female: 8/10), and 19 healthy controls (mean age: 31.94 +/- 1.50, min-max: 23-42; male/female: 11/8). IFN-gamma levels were also compared among colchicine treated and untreated groups.


RESULTS
Median plasma IFN-gamma levels were significantly higher in patients both with and without FMF attack than the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, plasma IFN-gamma levels were higher in patients with acute FMF attack compared to patients in attack-free periods (P < 0.05). Plasma levels of IFN-gamma were comparable in colchicine treated and untreated groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that IFN-gamma may contribute to the inflammatory cascade of FMF.
Köklü
Seyfettin
S
Department of Gastroenterology, Türkiye Yüksek Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. gskoklu@yahoo.com
Oztürk
Mehmet Akif
MA
Balci
Mustafa
M
Yüksel
Osman
O
Ertenli
Ihsan
I
Kiraz
Sedat
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006074:Gout Suppressants; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003078:Colchicine