Growth and IGF-1 levels of children with familial Mediterranean fever on colchicine treatment

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate growth process and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels in children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

Methods: This prospective study group consisted of 51 children with FMF under colchicine therapy (20 boys, 31 girls) and 42 healthy children (22 boys, 20 girls). All children were prepubertal. Bone ages and IGF-1 levels were determined in all cases. Height velocity (HV), height standard deviation score (SDS), target height and target height SDS were calculated.

Results: There was no statistical difference in age, HSDS, target height SDS and bone ages between healthy and diseased subjects. HV of children with FMF did not differ significantly from the control group. There was no statistical difference in age, HSDS, target height SDS and bone ages between healthy and FMF subjects. HV of children with FMF did not differ significantly from the control group. There was no significant correlation between disease duration, number of attacks, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and HV, HSDS and IGF-1 levels of FMF patients. There was positive correlation between cumulative colchicine dose and HV (r = 0.29).

Conclusion: Growth and IGF-1 levels of children with FMF do not differ from their healthy peers. However, there was positive correlation between HV and cumulative colchicine dose. This study suggests that colchicine not only has no adverse influence on growth, but more by suppressing disease activity and inflammation it has an enhancing role.