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REPORTS OUTLINE FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER STUDY RESULTS FROM E. SEYAHI ET AL
Cardiovascular Week
December 6, 2010
According to recent research published in the journal Clinical and
Experimental Rheumatology, "We investigated the prevalence of Behcet's
syndrome (BS) among the ethnic Armenians in Istanbul using Familial
Mediterranean Fever (FMF) as a comparator disease. We also studied
HLA-B51 and MEFV mutations among a group of healthy Armenians and a
non-Armenian population."
"The prevalence study was conducted in 2 parts in the Armenian
primary schools in Istanbul, using the enrolled students as index
cases to study the core family. In Part I, a questionnaire seeking
only whether either parent had previously been diagnosed as having
BS or FMF by a physician was distributed to a total of 1873 index
students registered at 10 schools. A total of 1380 parents filled in
the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 37% (1380 / 3746). In
Part II, eight schools participated with a response rate of 83 %
(1183/1428). Also, genomic DNA samples of 108 healthy (14 M/ 94 F)
Armenians and 97 (45 M/ 52 F) non-Armenians, were studied for HLA-B51
and MEFV gene mutations. In Part I, none of the parents turned out to
have been diagnosed as BS, whereas a total of 12 / 1380 (870/ 10(5))
had been diagnosed as FMF. In the second part the estimated prevalence
of BS was 90 /10(5) and that of FMF was 7601 10(5). HLA-B51 carrier
rate was found to be similar between the Armenian (27%, 29/108)
and the non-Armenian participants (19%, 18/97), (p=0.158). Overall
carrier rate of MEFV gene imitations was significantly higher in
the Armenian group (36% vs. 20%, p=0.015). The genetic load for FMF
is considerably higher among the Armenians when compared to the load
for BS among the same ethnic group. On the other hand, the rather low
frequency of BS among the Armenians when compared to the frequency
among the general population living in the same environment is further
evidence for a genetic predisposition to BS. HLA- B51 does not seem
to play a dominant role in the said predisposition," wrote E. Seyahi
and colleagues (see also Familial Mediterranean Fever).
The researchers concluded: "Finally, as we have used an unorthodox
epidemiological methodology in data collection our results might need
to be further verified by more conventional methods."
Seyahi and colleagues published their study in Clinical and
Experimental Rheumatology (The prevalence of Behcet's syndrome,
familial Mediterranean fever, HLA-B51 and MEFV gene mutations among
ethnic Armenians living in Istanbul, Turkey. Clinical and Experimental
Rheumatology, 2010;28(4 Suppl. 6):S67-S75).
For additional information, contact H. Yazici, Safa Sok 17-7, TR-81310
Istanbul, Turkey.
The publisher's contact information for the journal Clinical and
Experimental Rheumatology is: Clinical & Exper Rheumatology, Via
Santa Maria 31, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
From: A. Papazian
Cardiovascular Week
December 6, 2010
According to recent research published in the journal Clinical and
Experimental Rheumatology, "We investigated the prevalence of Behcet's
syndrome (BS) among the ethnic Armenians in Istanbul using Familial
Mediterranean Fever (FMF) as a comparator disease. We also studied
HLA-B51 and MEFV mutations among a group of healthy Armenians and a
non-Armenian population."
"The prevalence study was conducted in 2 parts in the Armenian
primary schools in Istanbul, using the enrolled students as index
cases to study the core family. In Part I, a questionnaire seeking
only whether either parent had previously been diagnosed as having
BS or FMF by a physician was distributed to a total of 1873 index
students registered at 10 schools. A total of 1380 parents filled in
the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 37% (1380 / 3746). In
Part II, eight schools participated with a response rate of 83 %
(1183/1428). Also, genomic DNA samples of 108 healthy (14 M/ 94 F)
Armenians and 97 (45 M/ 52 F) non-Armenians, were studied for HLA-B51
and MEFV gene mutations. In Part I, none of the parents turned out to
have been diagnosed as BS, whereas a total of 12 / 1380 (870/ 10(5))
had been diagnosed as FMF. In the second part the estimated prevalence
of BS was 90 /10(5) and that of FMF was 7601 10(5). HLA-B51 carrier
rate was found to be similar between the Armenian (27%, 29/108)
and the non-Armenian participants (19%, 18/97), (p=0.158). Overall
carrier rate of MEFV gene imitations was significantly higher in
the Armenian group (36% vs. 20%, p=0.015). The genetic load for FMF
is considerably higher among the Armenians when compared to the load
for BS among the same ethnic group. On the other hand, the rather low
frequency of BS among the Armenians when compared to the frequency
among the general population living in the same environment is further
evidence for a genetic predisposition to BS. HLA- B51 does not seem
to play a dominant role in the said predisposition," wrote E. Seyahi
and colleagues (see also Familial Mediterranean Fever).
The researchers concluded: "Finally, as we have used an unorthodox
epidemiological methodology in data collection our results might need
to be further verified by more conventional methods."
Seyahi and colleagues published their study in Clinical and
Experimental Rheumatology (The prevalence of Behcet's syndrome,
familial Mediterranean fever, HLA-B51 and MEFV gene mutations among
ethnic Armenians living in Istanbul, Turkey. Clinical and Experimental
Rheumatology, 2010;28(4 Suppl. 6):S67-S75).
For additional information, contact H. Yazici, Safa Sok 17-7, TR-81310
Istanbul, Turkey.
The publisher's contact information for the journal Clinical and
Experimental Rheumatology is: Clinical & Exper Rheumatology, Via
Santa Maria 31, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
From: A. Papazian