Value of mean platelets volume in children with familial mediterranean fever: A case–control prospective study from Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by a rise in acute phase reactants (APRs) during the attacks and occasionally in between the attacks. Although mean platelet volume (MPV) is generally not changed, low MPV could be used as an inflammatory marker in FMF and as an indicator of other diseases. This prospective case–control study was carried out in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, to assess MPV in Kurdish children with different FMF mutations during and in-between the attacks versus healthy controls.PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2011 to 2020, 56 gene-positive FMF patients (Group I) and 60 healthy controls (Group II) were enrolled. Besides the routine APRs, MPV was measured in both groups and categorized into low (<7 fl), normal (7–11 fl) and high (>11 fl). Informed consents from all participants and ethical institutional approval were obtained.RESULTS: Group I age range was 23 months to 16 years with a male to female ratio of 1.8:1 while Group II age ranged from 21 months to 15 years with a male to female ratio of 1.4:1. MPV was normal in (n = 44, 78.6%) of Group I versus (n = 44, 73.3%) of Group II (P = 0.05); low in (n = 8, 14.3%) of Group I versus (n = 4, 6.7%) of Group II (P = 0.05) and high in (n = 4, 7.1%) of Group I versus (n = 4, 6.7%) of Group II (P = 0.05). Low MPV values were relatively more frequent among the homozygotes (n = 4, 50%) and complex heterozygotes (n = 2, 25%) (P = 0.003).CONCLUSION: The current study showed that MPV was not statistically different between FMF patients and controls, while abnormal MPVs were associated with specific genotypes that may indicate coexistent problems.