title: Increased asymmetric dimethylarginine levels in young men with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF): is it early evidence of interaction between inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in FMF?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Unlike in many other chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, studies investigating endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) are limited, and the results are controversial. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is considered an indicator for endothelial dysfunction and a sensitive marker for cardiovascular risk. There have been no reports on serum ADMA levels in patients with FMF.
  
  
  METHODS
  We aimed (1) to determine serum ADMA concentrations in 38 young male patients with FMF and 23 age- and body mass index-matched healthy volunteers; (2) to evaluate its correlations with MEFV mutations, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and lipid profile; and (3) to compare effects of colchicine on circulating ADMA concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with FMF, ADMA and CRP levels were higher than in healthy controls. The mean levels of ADMA and CRP were higher during acute attacks than in attack-free periods. Patients taking colchicine had lower serum ADMA levels than non-colchicine users. There was a positive strong correlation between ADMA and CRP in patients with FMF. Stepwise linear regression analysis in patients with FMF revealed that age and CRP levels were independently associated with serum ADMA levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data imply that higher serum ADMA levels in FMF may indicate inflammation-related "endothelial dysfunction." It seems likely that regular use of colchicine is effective in preventing the development of and reversing not only amyloidosis but also endothelial dysfunction in patients with FMF.
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. mhterekeci@yahoo.com.tr
authors.forename: Hakan M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Terekeci
authors.forename: Cagatay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oktenli
authors.forename: Taner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozgurtas
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nalbant
authors.forename: Cihan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Top
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tapan
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kucukardali
authors.forename: Yavuz S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Sanisoglu
authors.forename: Emrullah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Solmazgul
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sahan
authors.forename: Ozkan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sayan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D001120:Arginine; D003078:Colchicine