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Can serum fetuin-A be regarded as an inflammatory marker among patients with familial Mediterranean fever?

Kemal Oncu1, Yusuf Yazgan, Alpaslan Tanoglu

  • 1Gastroenterology Department, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Uskudar, 34668, Istanbul, Turkey, koncu971@hotmail.com.

Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|August 9, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Serum fetuin-A levels decrease during Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) attacks, unlike other inflammatory markers. This suggests fetuin-A may serve as a novel indicator for FMF disease activity.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common periodic fever syndrome, primarily affecting Mediterranean populations.
  • Fetuin-A, a known negative acute-phase protein, has limited study as an inflammation marker in FMF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between serum fetuin-A levels and inflammatory markers in FMF patients.
  • To assess fetuin-A as a potential marker for FMF disease activity and attack differentiation.

Main Methods:

  • Sixty-seven FMF patients were studied, measuring serum fetuin-A, seruloplasmin, fibrinogen, CRP, WBC, calcium, and ESR.
  • Measurements were taken during attack-free periods, 12 hours post-attack, and 7 days post-attack.
  • Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was used for plasma fetuin-A; statistical analyses included paired-samples T test and Pearson correlation (p < 0.01).

Main Results:

  • Serum fetuin-A levels were significantly lower during FMF attacks compared to attack-free periods (p < 0.001).
  • Conversely, seruloplasmin, fibrinogen, CRP, WBC, and ESR were significantly higher during attacks.
  • Plasma fetuin-A showed a significant inverse correlation with other inflammatory markers.

Conclusions:

  • Fetuin-A may serve as a novel indicator of FMF disease activity.
  • Fetuin-A could be an adjunctive marker for differentiating FMF attacks.
  • The inverse correlation suggests inflammation-dependent downregulation of fetuin-A expression in FMF.

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