Serum lipid changes and insulin resistance in familial Mediterranean fever

Abstract

Objective: Inflammation is known to alter lipid profiles and to induce insulin resistance. This study was planned to test the hypothesis that familial Mediterranean ferver (FMF) patients and their first-degree asymptomatic relatives may have lipid profile changes and/or insulin resistance, similar to other inflammatory diseases.Material and Methods: We studied 72 FMF patients, 30 asymptomatic first-degree relatives, and 75 healthy controls. Fasting and 2-hour postprandial glucose, insulin, apolipoprotein (Apo) A1, Apo B, acute phase reactants, and lipid profiles of all subjects were studied. Insulin resistance was determined by the HOMA (Homeostasis Model Assessment) index.Results: There was no difference between the groups with regard to sex, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking status, fasting and postprandial 2-hour glucose, insulin, acute phase reactants, and HOMA index levels. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were similar between FMF patients and FMF relatives (48.9±12.4 mg/dL vs 49.3±13.8 mg/dL; p=NS), and both were lower than controls (48.9±12.4 mg/dL vs 59.6±15.1 mg/dL; p