Related Experiment Videos
Growth Outcomes in Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Question Beyond Chronic or Relapsing Inflammation
Ignazio Cammisa1, Clelia Cipolla2, Donato Rigante2,3
1Department of Pediatrics, San Giovanni Evangelista Hospital, 00019 Tivoli, Italy.
Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 25, 2026
Summary
Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) in children is often associated with preserved growth, especially with regular colchicine treatment. Early intervention and monitoring are key for managing growth in FMF patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Genetics
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease driven by MEFV mutations and IL-1β, potentially impacting growth via GH resistance.
- Chronic inflammation in FMF may affect the GH-IGF-1 axis, but the extent and reversibility of growth deficits are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and assess available data on linear growth outcomes in pediatric patients diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review following PRISMA guidelines was performed using the PubMed database.
- Fourteen studies encompassing 1144 children were analyzed for height, growth velocity, IGF-1 levels, and treatment impacts.
Main Results:
- Growth was generally preserved in most FMF children, with improved height standard deviation scores (HSDS) linked to earlier/higher colchicine doses.
- While FMF severity and attack frequency showed modest influence, specific MEFV variants (e.g., M694V) and high disease activity posed risks for growth impairment.
- IL-1 targeted biologics also demonstrated positive effects on HSDS, suggesting therapeutic benefits.
Conclusions:
- Limited data suggest final height is preserved in the majority of pediatric FMF cases.
- Consistent colchicine treatment is crucial for maintaining normal linear growth; IL-1 blockers are beneficial for refractory cases.
- Regular growth monitoring and proactive medical check-ups are essential for children with FMF.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic, relapsing form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by segmental, transmural inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Its pathogenesis arises from a combination of genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. Together, these factors lead to an exaggerated immune response against components of the gut microbiome.Genetic and Environmental InfluencesMultiple genetic...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Introduction
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses two major chronic disorders—ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease—each characterized by relapsing episodes of gastrointestinal inflammation. Although they share certain clinical features, their patterns of involvement and manifestations differ in ways that aid diagnosis and guide management.Ulcerative ColitisUlcerative colitis is limited to the colon and rectum and involves continuous inflammation of the mucosal layer. The disease course is marked...
01:12Chronic Inflammation: Introduction
Chronic inflammation is a prolonged, dysregulated immune response that persists for weeks to years when the inciting stimulus is difficult to eradicate or when self‑antigens drive ongoing reactivity. Morphologically, it is defined by mononuclear cell infiltration, progressive tissue destruction, and concurrent attempts at healing via angiogenesis and fibrosis. Compared with acute inflammation, edema is less prominent while cellular infiltration predominates; triggers include persistent...
01:26Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of chronic disorders marked by recurrent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract due to an abnormal immune response against gut microflora. This leads to tissue damage. The two main forms are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.Crohn’s DiseaseCrohn’s disease is a relapsing inflammatory disorder that can affect any part of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus. It involves all layers of the bowel wall (transmural) and shows “skip lesions” in which...
01:26Gastritis II: Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of gastritis begins with the colonization of the stomach lining by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This bacterium spreads mainly via the oral-oral route through saliva or shared utensils, and can also be transmitted in overcrowded or unhygienic environments through contaminated water, despite its brief survival outside the body.ColonizationOnce ingested, H. pylori enters the stomach and begins colonization by navigating through the mucus layer lining the stomach wall. It...