Measurement of spleen size in patients with familial Mediterranean fever
33rd European Paediatric Rheumatology Congress, Belgrade, Sırbistan, 16 - 19 Eylül 2026, ss.180, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: Belgrade
- Basıldığı Ülke: Sırbistan
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.180
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Introduction Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease characterized by chronic and subclinical inflammation, predominantly mediated by interleukin-1–driven inflammatory responses. Persistent inflammation and recurrent attacks may contribute to splenomegaly through activation of the reticuloendothelial system, as suggested by case series and limited studies. However, the prevalence, clinical sig nificance, and relationship of splenomegaly with inflammatory burden in FMF have not been clearly established, and large systematic cohort studies are lacking. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate spleen size and investigate associated clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with FMF. Methods In this cross-sectional study, demographic and clinical characteris tics, disease activity indicators, and routine laboratory parameters of patients with FMF were systematically recorded. Spleen dimensions were measured during routine follow-up visits using standard ultraso nography and documented. Spleen sizes were converted into Z-scores according to age-adjusted reference values. Patients with a Z-score ≥2 were considered to have splenomegaly. Results A total of 160 patients (89 females, 71 males) were included in the study. The median age was 10 years (5–19), while the median age at symptom onset and diagnosis were 4.5 years (1–16) and 6 years (1.5–17), respec tively. The median follow-up duration was 3.2 years (2–17). During at tacks, fever was present in 155 patients (96.8%), abdominal pain in 148 (92.5%), arthralgia in 136 (85%), and chest pain in 33 (20.6%). Forty five patients (28.1%) were considered colchicine-resistant. The median disease severity score was 2 (0–8); moderate disease severity was de tected in 48 patients (30.0%) and severe disease in 8 patients (5.0%). The median craniocaudal spleen diameter was 95 mm (65–158), the median transverse diameter was 80.7 mm (15–158), and the median anteroposterior diameter was 33 mm (20–62). Splenomegaly was de tected in 20 patients (12.5%). Although there was no significant age dif ference between colchicine-resistant and non-resistant groups, spleen dimensions were significantly greater in the colchicine-resistant group (craniocaudal p=0.01, transverse p=0.02, anteroposterior p=0.03) (Table 1). Compared with patients with mild disease severity, patients in the moderate-to-severe disease group had significantly greater craniocau dal spleen diameter [103.81 (73.5–158) vs. 93 (65.4–142.9), p=0.004], transverse diameter [86.5 (49.1–128) vs. 80 (15–117), p=0.003], and higher spleen Z-scores (0.48 ± 1.45 vs. 0.47 ± 1.11, p=0.034). Conclusion The association between increased spleen size and colchicine resis tance in patients with FMF suggests that splenomegaly may reflect subclinical inflammatory burden. However, larger prospective studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance and utility of this finding. Disclosure of interest None declared.