AB1318 ULTRASOUND EVALUATION OF ACHILLES ENTHESIS AND GASTROCNEMIUS ARCHITECTURE IN PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER: PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

BackgroundExertional leg pain and Achilles enthesitis are two musculoskleletal manifestations which have been described in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients. Muscle performance is related both with mass and architecture. Measurements of muscle thickness and pennation angle in muscles with pennate structure, such as gastrocnemius, are representative of muscle mass and architecture, both of which can easily be measured via musculoskeletal ultrasound.ObjectivesAim of this study is to evaluate thickness and pennation angle of medial gastrocnemius via ultrasound to evaluate muscle structure in FMF patients in order to detect implications of altered muscle condition and search for any relations with exertional leg pain/Achilles enthesitis. To our best knowledge this is the first study on the subject.MethodsConsecutive FMF patients meeting Tel-Hashomer criteria between the ages of 18-65 were enrolled. A control group was formed from healthy volunteers with similar demographics. All ultrasound evaluations were performed by the same observer. Thickness and pennation angle of medial gastrocnemius was measured. Achilles tendon findings were scored according to OMERACT suggestions and total inflammation and structural damage scores recorded.ResultsA total of 40 FMF patients and 17 controls were enrolled. Clinical characteristics and ultrasound findings of subjects were presented in Table 1. All FMF patients were under colchicine treatment and 10% was also under anti-interleukin 1 treatment. Demographics were similar between groups. Right gastrocnemius pennation angle was significantly reduced in FMF group (degree, median(IQR): 20.8 (3.6) vs 22.7 (4.5), p=0.048). OMERACT ultrasound inflammation total scores were incresed on both sides in FMF group. When gastrocnemius and enthesis ultrasound findings were compared between FMF patients with and without exertional myalgia, no significant differences were observed. When FMF patients with and without enthesis findings in ultrasound examination were compared, again no significant differences in pennation angles and muscle thicknesses were observed.Table 1.Clinical characteristics and ultrasound findings in subjectsFMF groupControl grouppN =40N=17Age, years, median (IQR)42.8 (23.0)38.0 (15.0)0.447Gender, female, number (%)29 (72.5)10 (58.8)0.310BMI, median (IQR)24.6 (5.3)24.8 (5.7)0.485Presence of exertional myalgia, number (%)22 (55)Gastrocnemius thickness, mm, median (IQR) Right19.7 (2.9)20.7 (5.6)0.303 Left19.6 (2.7)20.7 (4.6)0.321Gastrocnemius pennation angle, degrees, median (IQR) Right20.8 (3.6)22.7 (4.5)0.048 Left21.0 (3.3)21.8 (4.7)0.417OMERACT ultrasound tissue damage total score, median (IQR) Right2.0 (2.0)2.0 (2.0)0.659 Left2.0 (2.0)2.0 (2.0)0.280OMERACT ultrasound inflammation total score, median (IQR) Right0 (2.0)0 (0)0.005 Left0 (2.0)0 (0)0.023ConclusionOur preliminary results imply altered right gastrocnemius structure in FMF patients regardless of Achilles tendon involvement and exertional myalgia, which may imply altered muscle function. By increasing the number of subjects we plan to achieve more accurate results.