title: Higher Pentraxin-3 Levels are Associated With Inflammation in Familial Mediterranean Fever.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Circulating levels of Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) have been shown to increase in several inflammatory conditions. However, there is no information about the levels of PTX3 in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). This study was designed to evaluate the serum PTX3 levels in patients with FMF during attack and free-attack periods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty FMF patients in attack and free-attack period, and 20 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained within the first 24 h of the attack period and between attacks, and levels of white blood cell, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Fibrinogen, high sensitive CRP, and PTX3 were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PTX3 levels during the attack period were not significantly different from those in free-attack patients (4.9 ± 4.6 ng/ml vs. 2.8 ± 1.4 ng/ml, P > 0.05). However, both attack and free-attack patients had significantly higher PTX3 levels than healthy controls (4.9 ± 4.6 ng/ml vs. 1.8 ± 0.8 ng/ml, P < 0.001; 2.8 ± 1.4 ng/ml vs. 1.8 ± 0.8 ng/ml, P < 0.025, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTX3 levels were not markedly affected from FMF attacks, but high level of PTX3 in free-attack period of FMF patients shows ongoing subclinical inflammation. However, further studies are needed to determine its usefulness as a marker in clinical practice.
authors: Department of Nephrology, Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mesudiye
authors: M
authors: Bulut
authors: Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. mevlutceri@gmail.com.
authors: Mevlut
authors: M
authors: Ceri
authors: Department of Nephrology, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Selman
authors: S
authors: Unverdi
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Kecioren Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Altay
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Senes
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Zafer Aydın
authors: ZA
authors: Ecemis
authors: Department of Nephrology, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Duranay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000378:metabolism*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005340:Fibrinogen; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins
keywords: attack; familial Mediterranean fever; pentraxin-3