title: Heart rate variability in familial Mediterranean fever patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive autoimmune disease, presenting with the attacks of fever and inflammation of serous membranes. One of the leading causes of death in autoimmune rheumatologic diseases is cardiovascular events. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of FMF on the autonomic nerve and cardiovascular systems by measuring the indices of heart rate variability (HRV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty FMF patients and the same number of healthy volunteers were enrolled to the study. Standard deviation of all R-R intervals (SDNN), the square root of the sum of the square of the differences between successive R-R intervals (RMSSD), standard deviation of 5-minute mean values of R-R interval (SDANN), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Time domain indices (SDNN, SDANN, and RMSSD) were: 124.67±40.79, 129.87±36.43 (p=0.605); 11.43±38.41, 11.23±38.98 (p=0.984); and 33.43±17.39, 38.17±12.8 (p=0.235) for FMF patients and controls, respectively, and similar in both groups. Frequency domain indices (HF, LF, and LF/HF) were: 290.41±290.25, 322.20±222.54 (p=0.639); 596.16±334.07, 805.80±471.00 (p=0.051); and 3.57±2.57, 3.05±1.40 (p=0.338) for FMF patients and controls, respectively, and similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HRV parameters were similar in both groups. However, studies including larger populations and using different methods are required to clarify if autonomic dysfunction exists in patients with FMF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Adıyaman University Faculty of Medicine, Adıyaman, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Adıyaman University Faculty of Medicine, Adıyaman, Turkey.
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Süner
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Afşin State Hospital, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köroğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sütçü İmam University Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akçay
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Adıyaman University Faculty of Medicine, Adıyaman, Turkey.
authors.forename: İbrahim Halil
authors.initials: İH
authors.lastname: Türkbeyler
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Avicenna Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Köleoğlu
keywords: Familial Mediterranean fever; autonomic nervous system; heart rate variability