Are mean platelet volume and splenomegaly subclinical inflammatory marker in children with familial mediterranean fever?

doi:10.4236/health.2010.27105

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Vol.2, No.7, 692-695 (2010)

doi:10.4236/health.2010.27105

Health

Are mean platelet volume and splenomegaly subclinical

inflammatory marker in children with familial

mediterranean fever?

Ismail Dursun1*, Faysal Gok1, Oguzhan Babacan2, Erkan Sarı2, Onur Sakallıoglu1,

Suleyman Kalman1, Ibrahim Gokce2

1Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey;

*Corresponding Author: drdursun@hotmail.com

2Department of Pediatrics, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey; faysalgok@yahoo.com,

gokcemd@yahoo.com

Received 6 February 2010; revised 2 Mrach 2010; accepted 5 March 2010.

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to investigate the cor-

relation of MPV and splenomegaly as inflamma-

tion activity of FMF patients at the attacks free

period. We retrospectively reviewed the medical

records of 43 patients with FMF. This study was

performed at the attack free period as clinical

and laboratory. For this study, patients were

divided into two groups. Patients with spleno-

megaly is called group 1 (n = 12) and patients

with no splenomegaly is called group 2 (n = 31).

Groups were compared respect to age, gender,

platelet counts, acute phase reactants and MPV.

The mean MPV (fl) were significantly higher in

group 1 (8.9 ± 0.8) than in group 2 (8.4 ± 0.5, p <

0.05). This study suggested that increased MPV

and splenomeg aly without amy loidosis coul d be

a sign of chronic inflammation in children with

FMF even in attack free period.

Keywords: Familial Mediterranean Fever;

Mean Platelet Volume; Subclinical Inflammation

1. INTRODUCTION

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a recessive dis-

order characterized by attacks of periodic fever and in-

flammation [1]. The FMF patients are asymptomatic,

acute phase reactants (C-reactive protein, ESR) are nor-

mal in the attacs free period, but serum amyloid A (SAA)

and some cytokines are constantly higher [2,3]. Sub-

clinical inflammation continues in attack-free period in

FMF patients [3,4].

It has been reported that IL-6 /HPRT is significantly

higher than control in attack free period of FMF (3).

IL-6 has been shown to promote megakaryocyte matura-

tion in the absence of other growth factors. It possibly

stimulates megakaryocyte proliferation. Administration

of IL-6 has been shown to result in a significant increase

in the platelet count [5]. Also it is a cytokine that can

induce the formation of SAA and C-reactive protein

(CRP) [6-8]. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP and

SAA correlate closely with clinical disease activity in

FMF patients [4].

The spleen acts as a reservoir for platelets; one-third

of the circulating platelet mass is temporarily seques-

tered within a normal sized spleen, and up to 90 percent

may be found within a markedly enlarged spleen. The

etiology of splenomegaly may relate to an increase in a

normal splenic process (e.g. hemolysis) or may be due to

infiltrative, infectious, or vascular disorders [9]. In-

volvement of the reticuloendothelial system in FMF is

rare mentioned in the literature [10,11]. Splenomegaly in

patients with FMF may be related to the rate of platelet

destruction. The changes of peripheral platelet volume

depend on the rate of splenic sequestration and bone

marrow production. The platelet survival is directly re-

lated to the lowest platelet count and inversely related to

both the highest mean platelet volume and duration of

the thrombocytopenia [12]. If the rate of platelet destruc-

tion is equal or higher than the rate of platelet production,

mean platelet volume is increase because of increased

peripheral immature platelets. If the rate of platelet de-

struction is lover than the rate of platelet production,

mean platelet volume is normal or decrease [12,13].

Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a parameter generated

by full blood count analyzers as part of the routine com-

plete blood count (CBC) test which is usually over-

looked by clinicians. MPV correlates with the platelet

I. Dursun et al. / HEALTH 2 (2010) 692-695

693

function and activation. An association between FMF

activity and MPV has not been investigated yet.

The present study aimed to investigate the correlation

of MPV and splenomegaly as the inflammatory activity

of FMF patients at the attacks free period.

2. PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 43

patients with FMF who were followed up in our Pediat-

ric Nephrology and Rheumatology Unite. The diagnosis

of FMF was made according to the diagnostic criteria

which described by Livneh et al. and DNA analyses

[14,15]. This study was performed at the attack free pe-

riod. The attack free period was accepted if the clinically

patient had no symptoms and in the laboratory, ESR and

CRP were normal. Patients were divided into two groups

according to splenomegaly. Patients with splenomegaly

is called group 1 (n = 12) and patients with no splenome-

galy is called group 2 (n = 31). Groups were compared

respect to age, gender, platelet counts, acute phase reac-

tants (ESR and CRP) and MPV. None of the patients had

abnormal urinalysis for proteinuria. Splenomegaly has

been established by physical examination and confirmed

by abdominal ultrasound (USG). In USG examination,

we used age and height dependant standarts for spleno-

megaly [16].

3. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

All tests were performed using SPSS for Windows 15.0.

The parameters with normal distribution were expressed

as mean ± SD and the parameters with abnormal distri-

bution were expressed as median (minimum-maximum).

Comparisons of means were performed with unpaired

t-test. Comparisons of medians were performed with

Mann-Whitney U-test. Comparisons of proportions were

performed with Pearson-chi-squared test. A P value <

0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

4. RESULTS

The results of genotype of the patients with FMF were

showed in Table1. Table 2 shows epidemiological and

laboratory findings of the patients with FMF. While the

group 1 included two girls and ten boys, the group 2

included 15 girls and 16 boys. The mean age of the

group 1 and group 2 were 11.0 ± 4.4 and 10.1 ± 3.5, re-

spectively. The mean platelet counts of the group 1 and

group 2 were 248500 ± 67654 and 281000 ± 51847, re-

spectively. There was no significant difference between

group 1 and group 2 according to age and platelet counts

(p > 0.05). The mean MPV (fl) were significantly higher

Table 1. Shows genotyping distribution of patients with FMF.

MEF Mutation Group1 (n = 12) Group 2 (n = 31)

M694V/M694V (n) 5 8

M694V/N (n) 3 8

M694V/V726A (n) 1 2

M694V/M680I (n) 2 1

V726A/R761H (n) 1 -

E148Q/N (n) - 3

V726A/V726A (n) - 1

M680I/V726A(n) - 1

M694V/E148Q(n) - 2

V726A/N(n) - 2

Normal (n) - 3

Table 2. Epidemiological and laboratory findings of the pa-

tients with FMF.

Variables Patients with

splenomegaly

(n = 12)

Patients with no

splenomegaly

(n = 31) p

Age (years)* 11.0 ± 4.4 10.1 ± 3.5 > 0.05

Gender (M/F) 10/2 16/15 0.05

Platelets counts

(× 103/mm3)* 248 ± 68 281 ± 59 > 0.05

Mean platelet volume

(fl)* 8.9 ± 0.8 8.4 ± 0.5 < 0.03

Mean ± SD

in group 1 (8.9 ± 0.8) than in group 2 (8.4 ± 0.5, p < 0.05)

(Table 2).

5. DISCUSSION

Involvement of the reticuloendothelial system in FMF is

seldom mentioned in the literature [10,11]. Enlargement

of the spleen without amyloid deposition has been re-

ported in 30.7% of patients with FMF [17]. Aharoni et al.

[18] detected splenomegaly in 27.5%, 13.3% of patients

with FMF at the attack and at attack free period, respec-

tively. In our study, splenomegaly was detected by phy-

sical examination and abdominal ultrasound in 27.9% of

FMF patients at the attacks free period.

In literature, so far, it has not been reported study that

investigates association between MPV and disease activ-

ity in patients with FMF. There are few studies about the

association between MPV and the clinical activity of

I. Dursun et al. / HEALTH 2 (2010) 692-695

694

rheumatoid arthritis. Milovanovic et al. [19] have re-

ported that in active disease IL-6 but not thrombopoietin

(TPO) is related to platelet count. Thus, IL-6 raises

platelet count in reactive thrombocytosis and the neu-

trophil count. In rheumatoid arthritis, MPV and myelop-

eroxidase also mirror the disease activity [19]. In the

other study has been reported that cytokines and IL-6,

IL-11 and growth factors (e.g. TPO) may also contribute

to the pathologic megakaryocytopoiesis of RA [20].

Kisacik et al. [21] have been shown the correlation be-

tween MPV and the clinical activity of rheumatoid ar-

thritis and ankylosing spondylitis. They suggest the as-

sessment of MPV that may provide additional informa-

tion about inflammation in AS and RA.

Up now, there are two study that has been shown the

association with splenomegaly and genotype in patients

with FMF in the literature [22,23]. Kone et al. [22]

showed that homozygosity for the M694V mutation

correlated with splenomegaly. But, Inal et al. [23] didn’t

detect the association with splenomegaly and genotype

in patients with FMF. In our study, since the the number

of the patients is small to do the correlation with the

genotype and splenomegaly, we do not find the result

statistically significant.

In conclusion, the diagnosis of FMF is based mainly

on the clinical criteria and laboratory examinations. We

found the correlation of MPV and splenomegaly as the

inflammatory activity of FMF patients at the attacks free

period. These could help to diagnosis of the FMF and

may be applible for clinical chronic inflammatory condi-

tion score marker that related to prognosis or the possi-

bility that development of amiloidosis. Further and in-

cluding much more number patients studies are needed

to confirm.

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