Akif Acay1, Memnune Sena Ulu2, Ahmet Ahsen3, Gulay Ozkececi4, Kasim Demir5, Ufuk Ozuguz6, Seref Yuksel2, Gursel Acarturk5. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. Electronic address: drakifacay@gmail.com. 2. Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. 4. Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. 5. Department of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. 6. Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Numerous inflammatory and innate immune pathways are involved in atherogenesis. We aimed to investigate the atherogenic index and other lipid parameters in individuals with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), as a predictor of atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients with FMF and 60 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were included in this study. The patients with acute infection, chronic metabolic and rheumatic diseases, use of drugs other than colchicine and smoking history were excluded. CRP, ESR, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels of patients and the control group were measured. Atherogenic index (TG/HDL-C) was calculated. RESULTS: We found that the atherogenic index values of the patients were significantly higher than those of the control group. HDL-C levels were lower and ESR and TG levels were higher in patients. Total cholesterol, LDL-C and CRP levels did not differ significantly between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the values of total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides (TG), HDL-C, and atherogenic indexes between the groups of patients with and without M694V mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Elaboration of clinical models of inflammation-induced atherogenesis may further advance our knowledge of multiple inflammatory pathways implicated in atherogenesis and provide a useful tool for cardiovascular prevention. We believe that the atherogenic index also be used as a preliminary indication of accelerated atherosclerosis in FMF. However, large-scale prospective studies on this issue are needed.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Numerous inflammatory and innate immune pathways are involved in atherogenesis. We aimed to investigate the atherogenic index and other lipid parameters in individuals with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), as a predictor of atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients with FMF and 60 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were included in this study. The patients with acute infection, chronic metabolic and rheumatic diseases, use of drugs other than colchicine and smoking history were excluded. CRP, ESR, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels of patients and the control group were measured. Atherogenic index (TG/HDL-C) was calculated. RESULTS: We found that the atherogenic index values of the patients were significantly higher than those of the control group. HDL-C levels were lower and ESR and TG levels were higher in patients. Total cholesterol, LDL-C and CRP levels did not differ significantly between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the values of total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides (TG), HDL-C, and atherogenic indexes between the groups of patients with and without M694V mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Elaboration of clinical models of inflammation-induced atherogenesis may further advance our knowledge of multiple inflammatory pathways implicated in atherogenesis and provide a useful tool for cardiovascular prevention. We believe that the atherogenic index also be used as a preliminary indication of accelerated atherosclerosis in FMF. However, large-scale prospective studies on this issue are needed.