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Does familial Mediterranean fever affect cognitive function in children? Electrophysiological preliminary study
Gonca Keskindemirci1, Gökçer Eskikurt2, Nuray Aktay Ayaz1
1a Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic , Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital , İstanbul , Turkey.
Objectives:
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a periodic autoinflammatory disease with subclinical inflammation occurring between attacks. The aim of the study was to prospectively evaluate the cognitive function of children diagnosed with FMF that were under colchicine therapy and compare them with healthy controls through electrophysiologically event-related potentials (ERPs) study.
Methods:
Twelve children with FMF and 12 healthy controls were included in the study. During the electroencephalography recordings, all participants were instructed to discriminate rare stimuli (target stimuli) from frequent stimuli (standard stimuli) by pressing a botton on a mouse immediately following the target stimulus. P300, the cognitive component of ERP, was obtained in response to target stimuli and its amplitude and latency were measured.
Results:
The amplitude of the P300 of the FMF patients was higher and the latencies of the P300 of the FMF patients were shorter than the amplitudes and latencies of control patients, respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically significant for amplitude but not for latency.
Conclusions:
Cognitive processing reflecting allocation of attention and visual processing speed seems not to be negatively affected in FMF patients with homozygous M694V mutations undergoing colchicine treatment. As this study is unique in its evaluation of the cognitive function of children with FMF, these findings may be helpful for counseling families and patients affected by the condition.
Insights
Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) on colchicine therapy show no cognitive deficits. Event-related potentials (ERPs) indicate normal attention allocation and visual processing speed in these FMF patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a periodic autoinflammatory disease characterized by subclinical inflammation between attacks.
- Colchicine therapy is standard for FMF management, but its long-term effects on cognitive function require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate the cognitive function in children diagnosed with FMF undergoing colchicine therapy.
- To compare cognitive function between FMF patients and healthy controls using electrophysiologically event-related potentials (ERPs).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 12 children with FMF and 12 healthy controls participated.
- Participants underwent electroencephalography (EEG) while performing a visual discrimination task.
- The P300 component of ERPs, reflecting cognitive processing, was measured for amplitude and latency.
Main Results:
- FMF patients exhibited a higher P300 amplitude compared to controls, indicating enhanced cognitive processing.
- P300 latencies were shorter in FMF patients, suggesting faster visual processing speed.
- The difference in P300 amplitude was statistically significant, while latency differences were not.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive functions, including attention allocation and visual processing speed, appear unaffected in pediatric FMF patients with homozygous M694V mutations on colchicine treatment.
- These findings suggest that current FMF management may preserve cognitive abilities in children.
- This study provides valuable insights for counseling families and patients regarding the cognitive impact of FMF.
