Mesudiye Bulut1, Mevlut Ceri2, Selman Unverdi3, Mustafa Altay4, Mehmet Senes5, Zafer Aydın Ecemis6, Murat Duranay3. 1. Department of Nephrology, Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 2. Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. mevlutceri@gmail.com. 3. Department of Nephrology, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 4. Department of Endocrinology, Kecioren Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 5. Department of Biochemistry, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
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.
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 FMFpatients 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 FMFpatients shows ongoing subclinical inflammation. However, further studies are needed to determine its usefulness as a marker in clinical practice.
Authors: Michael Boehme; Fenja Kaehne; Anna Kuehne; Wanja Bernhardt; Matthias Schröder; Wolfgang Pommer; Christoph Fischer; Helmut Becker; Christian Müller; Ralf Schindler Journal: Nephrol Dial Transplant Date: 2007-05-11 Impact factor: 5.992