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Arterial Stiffness and Subclinical Inflammation in Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Comprehensive

Nadide Melike Sav1, Hasan Baki Altinsoy2, Betul Turen3

  • 1Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Duzce University, Duzce 81620, Turkey.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 26, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) show increased arterial stiffness, indicating potential early cardiovascular disease risk due to chronic inflammation. Regular monitoring of arterial stiffness is recommended for these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pediatric Rheumatology
  • Inflammatory Diseases

Background:

  • Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a chronic autoinflammatory condition.
  • Subclinical inflammation persists in FMF patients even during remission.
  • Chronic inflammation is linked to endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate vascular damage risk in pediatric FMF patients.
  • To measure carotid and aortic intima-media thickness (IMT) and arterial stiffness.
  • To assess the impact of chronic inflammation on arterial health.

Main Methods:

  • Inclusion of pediatric FMF patients in remission for at least 3 months.
  • Sonoelastography for carotid and aortic IMT and arterial stiffness measurements.
  • Evaluation of acute-phase reactants in all participants.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher carotid artery stiffness in FMF patients compared to controls.
  • Similar aortic and carotid IMT between FMF patients and controls.
  • Elevated acute-phase reactants in the FMF patient group.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric FMF patients exhibit increased arterial stiffness.
  • Chronic inflammation may lead to atherosclerotic changes and coronary disease risk.
  • Arterial stiffness may serve as an early marker for cardiovascular disease in FMF.
Keywords:
arterial stiffnesschildrenfamilial mediterranean feverinflammationintima–media thicknessreal-time tissue elastography

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