Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pediatrics

Familial Mediterranean Fever is the most common autoinflammatory disease. It manifested by inflammatory attacks of peritonitis, pleuritis, pericarditis accompanied by fever and arthritis. Mutations of MEFV gene results in pyrin dysfunction, which causes uncontrolled interleukin-1 beta production and triggers the inflammatory attacks. Inflammation persists even during attack-free periods in one-third of the FMF patients. Chronic inflammation was thought to be related to the cardiovascular risk in FMF patients. Multiple pathologies have been suggested in the changes in ventricular segments in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever including fibrous scarring in the cardiac muscle, nodular granulomatous lesions, myocarditis, arteritis, amyloidosis, and agents used in the treatment of Familial Mediterranean Fever. As myocardial dysfunction can lead to morbidity and mortality so early recognition of cardiac dysfunction may be useful in modifying the therapy. Tissue Doppler may be a promising tool for such a purpose. Method: Fourty-six FMF patients with a mean age of 10.7± 2.6 years and 46 aged matched healthy control subjects have been included in the study. Patients have been recruited from pediatric rheumatology clinic Cairo University. Conventional, TDI was performed to all patients and control subjects

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