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

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 unde r colchicine therapy (20 boils, 31 girls) and 42 healthy children (22 boils , 20 girls). All children were prepubertal. Bone ages and IGF-l 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 F MF did not differ significantly from the control group. There was no statis tical difference in age, HSDS, target height SDS and bone ages between heal thy, and FMF subjects. HV of children with FMF did not differ significantly from the control group. There was no significant correlation between disea se duration, number of attacks, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and HV HSDS and IGF-1 levels of FMF patients. There was positive correlation between cu mulative 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 ha s no adverse influence on growth, but more by suppressing disease activity and inflammation it has an enhancing role.