Neurological Face of Familial Mediterranean Fever

Abstract

Objective:

Familial Mediterranean fever is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent attacks in the form of fever and inflammation of serous membranes. We aimed to search for neurological signs and symptoms of children with familial Mediterranean fever.

Materials and Methods:

Medical records database from 2010 to 2020 was screened retrospectively. In total, 625 children with familial Mediterranean fever were included in the study. Neurological symptoms and associated factors were searched.

Results:

The mean age at onset of familial Mediterranean fever symptoms and time to diagnosis was calculated as 5.12 ± 3.51 years and 7.27 ± 3.9 years, respectively. The neurological symptoms were present in 142 (23.5%) patients. Headache was the most common symptom. During follow-up, different neurologic diseases were diagnosed in 40 familial Mediterranean fever patients and epilepsy was the most frequent disease. The coexistent disease was present in 49.9% of children with familial Mediterranean fever. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis was found to be a risk factor for the neurologic symptom (P < .05). The frequency of neurological symptoms was higher in patients with E148Q mutation (P < .012).

Conclusion:

The results of the present study revealed that patients with familial Mediterranean fever can present with various central nervous system manifestations. A multidisciplinary approach must be considered in the treatment of these children.

What is already known on this topic?

• Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is the most common monogenic autoinflammatory disease characterized by periodic attacks of fever, polyserositis, and arthritis. Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a systemic disease. Clinical manifestations of the disease usually occur during childhood.

• The most frequent mutations in our country are M694V, M694I, M680I, V726A, and E148Q. There is a phenotype-genotype correlation. Different neurological signs and symptoms have been reposted in children with FMF.

What this study adds no this topic?

• In children diagnosed younger than five years old, neurologic manifestations are statistically less frequent than others (P < .05).

• The frequency of neurological symptoms was higher in patients with E148Q mutation.

• The coexistence of juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a risk factor for neurologic manifestations (P < .05).The frequency and duration of FMF attach, colchicine treatment does not affect neurologic symptom frequency (P > .05).

Introduction

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive, auto-inflammatory disease. It is characterized by recurrent fever and inflammation of serous membranes.¹ Although it occurs worldwide, it is most frequent in the population of the Mediterranean region.² Familial Mediterranean fever’s prevalence varies from 1 : 500 to 1 : 1000 in endemic countries with the highest reported prevalence of 1/395 from the central Anatolia region. Considering disease prevalence and population size, Turkey has the highest number of FMF patients in the world followed by Israel and Armenia.³ It is caused by a mutation in the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene, located on the short arm of the 16th chromosome.⁴ The most frequently identified mutations occur as M694V, M680I, E148Q, and V726A.¹ Kilic et al⁵ reported that the most common mutation in children in our country with FMF was M694V. The diagnosis of FMF is based on the clinical features of the patient and genetic tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Attacks of FMF are caused by dysregulation of the pyrin inflammasome, which leads to constitutive hypersecretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 with intermittent exacerbations.⁵

Familial Mediterranean fever is a multisystemic disease, and fever and abdominal pain are the main complaints of patients.⁷ Familial Mediterranean fever attacks usually start from early childhood, and 80%-90% of patients become symptomatic before the age of 20 years.^8,9 Different neurological signs and symptoms have been reported in children with FMF in different case series. Canpolat et al¹⁰ reported that headache was the most frequent neurological finding in Turkish children with FMF. Epilepsy, febrile seizure, multiple sclerosis, and pseudotumor cerebri have been reported in patients.^10,11 The exact pathophysiology of the neurological manifestation of FMF is unclear. The present study aimed to search for neurological signs and symptoms in pediatric FMF patients. We further aimed to search relationship between genetic mutation type and neurological signs and symptoms.

Materials and Methods

In the present study, we retrospectively reviewed medical records of FMF patients who were followed up between January 2010 and January 2020 at the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University.

Data Collection

All patients were examined by the pediatric nephrology department and diagnosed according to Yalcınkaya-Ozen’s criteria.¹² Clinical manifestations, demographic data, family history, laboratory studies, and genetic analysis of MEFV mutations were obtained from patient charts at the first visit. At subsequent visits, clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated. Follow-up visits were scheduled at 3-12-month intervals depending on clinical status. During each visit, the patients’ clinical features, response to colchicine therapy, and compliance were recorded. Patients who suffer from neurological signs and symptoms were examined and evaluated by pediatric neurologists.

For the study protocol, the patient’s age, gender, age at diagnosis of FMF, age at onset of neurological complaints, drugs used, and coexisting diseases were all retrospectively recorded.

The study was approved by the Eskisehir Osmangazi University Ethical Committee (No: 2020/17).

Genetic Analysis

Mutation analysis was performed from peripheral blood samples according to standard procedures by polymerized chain reaction technique. Exons 2, 3, 5, and 10 were examined, and M694V, M694I, M694L, M680I, F479L, E148Q, S675N, M680L, R717S, V722M, I192del, K695R, K695M, V726A, A744S, R761H, P369S, H478Y, G6978E, T681I, I720M mutations were investigated. Mutations were classified as homozygotic, heterozygotic, and compound.

Statistical Analysis

The statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Ill, United States). Descriptive statistics were shown in mean ± standard deviation and frequency format. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to evaluate the normal distribution of continuous variables between the groups. The parameters with normal distribution were compared by Student’s t-test, whereas those without normal distribution were evaluated by the Mann–Whitney U-test.

Monte Carlo simulation was used while performing the chi-square analysis in the cross-table, in which the distribution of the presence or absence of neurological symptoms according to mutations was examined (95% CI of 10 000 trials).

Results

Demographic Parameters and Clinical Features of Patients

A total of 625 pediatric FMF patients (320 girls and 305 boys) were included in the study. The female to male ratio was calculated as 1.04. The mean age at the onset of FMF symptoms was 5.12 ± 3.51 years. Nearly half of children (44.7%) were diagnosed at an age between 5 and 10 years, and the mean age at diagnosis of FMF was calculated as 7.27 ± 3.9 years. The ratios of parenteral consanguinity and family history of FMF were found to be 9.7% and 39.5%, respectively.

Patient records showed that the majority of patients experienced 1 or 2 attacks per month (46.8%). The duration of attacks was between 24 and 48 hours for 234 children. Medical records showed that genetic analysis had been performed on 610 children, and the most common mutation type was the M694V mutation (51.5%). All patients have been treated with colchicine. When the patients’ compliance with colchicine treatment was checked, it was shown that 86.8% of them were using the drug regularly. In addition to colchicine, 19.8% of the patients were found to be treated with drugs other than colchicine (methotrexate, steroids, hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine, etanercept, anakinra, and mesalazine). Medical records of patients showed that the co-existing disease was present in 49.9% of children (Table 1).

Table 1.

Co-existing Diseases of FMF Patients

Disease	n* (%)
Urinary disorders	60 (9.6)
Hematological disorders	50 (8)
Gastrointestinal disorders	42 (6.7)
Endocrine disorders	34 (5.4)
Allergic disorders	27 (4.3)
Henoch–Schonlein purpura	25 (4)
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis	20 (3.2)
Metabolic disorders	17 (2.7)
Cardiac disorders	10 (1.6)
Acute rheumatic fever	6 (0.9)
Behçet’s disease	6 (0.9)
Other disorders	21 (3.3)

*Some patients have more than 1 co-existing disease.

FMF, familial Mediterranean fever.

Neurological Manifestations of Patients

The neurological symptoms were present in 142 (23.5%) patients (Table 2).

Table 2.

Neurological Symptoms of Patients

Symptoms	n* (%)
Headache	72 (11.52)
Myalgia	50 (8.00)
Vertigo and dizziness	38 (6.08)
Sensation disorders	26 (4.16)
Syncope	22 (3.52)
Muscle weakness	16 (2.56)
Visual disorders	16 (2.56)
Psychosocial disorders	11 (1.76)
Neurocognitive functional disorders	10 (1.60)
Movement disorders	7 (1.12)
Auditory disorders	2 (0.32)
Others	7 (1.12)

*Some patients presented more than 1 symptom.

The results revealed that parenteral consanguinity and family history of FMF does not affect the frequency of neurologic symptoms. However, in children diagnosed younger than 5 years old, neurologic manifestations are statistically less frequent than others (Table 3) (P < .05).

Table 3.

The Age of Diagnosis and Neurologic Symptoms

Age of Diagnosis	Neurologic Symptom Positive, n (%)*	Neurologic Symptom Negative, n (%)*	P ** (95% CI)
<5 years	31 (17.2)	149 (82.8)	.037 (.030-.041)
5-10 years	67 (26.6)	185 (73.4)
>10 years	37 (27.8)	96 (72.2)

*Percentages of rows.

**Pearson chi-square statistical probability value in cross-table analysis with Monte Carlo simulation.

Headache was the most common symptom, and it was accompanied by secondary other neurological disorders in 10 patients. Migraine and chronic daily headaches were diagnosed in 27 and 18 children, respectively. Headache was also presented as a symptom of the case with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. The type of syncope was vasovagal in all cases. The origin of vertigo was central for 4 children with stroke and cerebral vasculitis. Fifty patients suffered from myalgia. However, none of them were diagnosed with protracted febrile myalgia.

During follow-up, different neurologic diseases were diagnosed in 40 FMF patients and epilepsy was the most frequent disease. The neurologic diseases are presented in Table 4.

Table 4.

Neurologic Diseases in Children with FMF

Disease	n (%)
Epilepsy	16 (2.56)
Febrile seizure	6 (0.96)
Aseptic/viral meningitis	2 (0.32)
Cerebral vasculitis	2 (0.32)
Cerebrovascular event	2 (0.32)
Transverse myelitis	1(0.16)
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension	1 (0.16)
Others	10 (1.6)

FMF, familial Mediterranean fever.

Epilepsy was the most frequent neurologic disease. Except for 4 children, epileptic seizures were idiopathic in 10 patients. The seizures were focal in symptomatic epilepsies.

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed pathologic neuroimaging findings in 14 patients. Acute ischemic infarct in the brain region supplied by the left middle cerebral artery was detected in stroke cases. Non-specific signal changes and arachnoid cysts were noticed in 8 and 2 children, respectively. The 2 cases with cerebral vasculitis were diagnosed by MRI findings.

Genetic Mutations and Neurological Manifestations of Familial Mediterranean Fever

In terms of genetic mutations on the FMF gene, the frequency of neurological symptoms was higher in patients with E148Q mutation. However, M694V mutation was more frequent in patients who have no neurologic symptoms (Table 5).

Table 5.

The Relation Between Mutation Type and Neurologic Symptoms

Mutation Type	Neurologic Symptom Positive, n (%)*	Neurologic Symptom Negative, n (%)*	P ** (95% CI)
M694V	50 (16.3)	257 (83.7)	.012 (.009-.014)
E148Q	46 (30.9)	103 (69.1)
V726A	14 (17.1)	68 (82.9)
R202Q	11 (14.7)	64 (85.3)
M680I	15 (22.7)	51 (77.3)
P369S	6 (18.8)	26 (81.2)
K695R	6 (28.6)	15 (71.4)

*Percentages of rows.

**Pearson chi-square statistical probability value in cross-table analysis with Monte Carlo simulation.

The results showed that the frequency and duration of FMF attacks and compliance with colchicine treatment do not affect neurologic symptom frequency (P > .05).

It was found that the coexistence of juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a risk factor for neurologic manifestations (P < .05).

Discussion

Although FMF is a systemic disease, neurological manifestations might be present.^1,10,13 The present study aimed to search the neurological signs and symptoms of a large group of children with FMF.

Our results revealed that 142 (23.5%) children experienced neurological symptoms. A previous study reported that the prevalence of neurological manifestations in pediatric cases was 12.8%.¹⁴ In a recent study, Biro et al¹⁵ compared the neurological complaints of children with FMF and their healthy siblings and it was found that neurological manifestations were more prevalent in cases. As compatible with our results, in a study conducted in our country, Canpolat et al¹⁰ searched neurological signs and symptoms in 104 children and reported the prevalence of neurological manifestations as 21.5% in the study group.

Headache was the most common neurological complaint of children in the present research and was detected in 11.5% of the study group. A study from Turkey reported a much higher frequency of headaches among pediatric FMF patients.¹⁰ This result was compatible with the literature.^10,14,16 Salehzadeh et al¹⁷ reported that the most common neurological manifestation was a headache in 47.26% of patients; 64.1% of those were persistent and 35.9% had a recurrent nature. They also revealed that negative results for MEFV gene mutations had a significantly different frequency of headaches. Headache is a common symptom in children with other chronic diseases such as celiac and rheumatic diseases.^18,19 Chronic inflammation and a lower pain threshold in these children may play a role in the pathophysiology of headache.

The prevalence of epilepsy in Turkey was reported as 0.8%.²⁰ Epilepsy was identified in 16/625 (2.56%) of the general FMF population in the present study. Canpolat et al¹⁰ detected epilepsy in 5.8% of children with FMF. Among 2300 children with FMF, epilepsy was reported in 0.5% of them.²¹ Although the cellular and molecular mechanisms of epileptogenesis are unclear, focal or systemic dysregulated inflammatory processes might result in abnormal neural connectivity and the hyperexcitable neuronal network that mediates the onset of epilepsy.²² Chronic inflammation might have a role in the coexistence of epilepsy and FMF. In some patients, anti-epileptic drugs (AED) fail to control seizures.^10,23

Gentiloni et al²³ described a patient unresponsive to AED. Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed with FMF, and seizures were controlled after the administration of colchicine.

The prevalence of febrile seizures (FS) is 2%-5% in the general pediatric population.²⁴ Febrile seizures in children with FMF were more prevalent compared to healthy children. Both FS and FMF share common molecular pathways such as increased production of IL-1β.^25,26

A study done on children with simple FS revealed that 68% of children were heterozygotes for any mutation and M694V was the most common type of mutation.²⁷ The risk of FS increased by 2.9-fold in FMF patients compared to the general population.²⁸

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a neurological disorder characterized by signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure in the absence of infection, vascular abnormality, or a space-occupying lesion.²⁹ One patient was diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) and presented with papilledema. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension comorbid with FMF has been described in the literature.^10,16,30 The exact explanation of this association is unclear yet.

Vertigo and dizziness were detected in 38 (6.08%) children. Salehzadeh et al¹⁷ reported that 26.7% of their case series had suffered from vertigo in a study done with both adults and children. The nature of vertigo is subjective. Therefore, children in the present research might have been able to describe vertigo verbally.

Hearing loss or auditory disorders are described in pediatric FMF cases.^31,32 Cochlear involvement occurs in FMF.³³ Two children experienced hearing impairment in our study group. Unfortunately, we could not get any information about the prognosis of hearing loss in these children.

Cerebrovascular events have been rarely reported in FMF patients.³⁴ Kalyoncu et al³⁵ reported that only 7 cases experienced stroke among 3034 adult patients. In another study done in adults, no stroke case was reported.¹⁷ In the present study, 2 children had a stroke. This result is quite high compared to adults. It is unclear whether FMF can be considered a risk factor for stroke is still to be answered; however, some associated diseases with FMF, particularly systemic vasculitis, may involve the central nervous system (CNS) and present CNS vascular disorders such as stroke and ischemia.¹⁷

Canpolat et al¹⁰ reported that M694V was the most frequent mutation (49.0% in the overall cohort), but it was more frequently detected in 59.0% of patients with neurological involvement. In contrast to them, we detected a lower frequency of neurologic manifestations in patients with M94V mutation. In a case series study, the headache was present in 47.26% of cases and it was more common in M694V mutation-negative patients.¹⁷ The high frequency of common neurologic symptoms in FMF patients with negative MEFV gene mutations could emphasize the partial protection and/or modifying role of this mutation in the appearance of these symptoms. Although there is no genotype–phenotype correlation, Cekin et al³⁶ reported that patients having E148Q or V726A mutant allele showed fewer clinical FMF symptoms in their case series.

At present, the frequency of consanguinity between parents and family history of FMF was found to be 9.7% and 39.5%, respectively. Although no effect of these parameters on the prevalence of neurologic manifestations was reported, these rates are lower than previously reported.^13,37

Comorbidity is defined as the presence of 1 or more additional disorders to the existing disease.^38,39 Rheumatologic disorders are common in FMF cases. Our results revealed that half of the study group had associated diseases and 3.5% of children had associated juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). A recent study reported a similar rate of JIA in children with FMF.⁴⁰ However, in a large case series conducted on both adult and pediatric cases, Peynircioglu et al³⁸ reported that 1.55% of FMF cases had JIA. The statistical analysis showed that it is an important risk factor for neurologic signs and symptoms. It is uncertain whether JIA is a risk factor for FMF because FMF and JIA association could be an over conclusion.

The main limitation of the present study is that the patients were evaluated retrospectively. Therefore, minor neurologic signs and symptoms might be underestimated and might not be recorded in the patient’s medical files.

In conclusion, neurologic manifestations are more common in FMF patients than in the general population. This could affect the prognosis of pediatric FMF cases. As a result, during routine follow-up visits, clinicians must be suspicious of any neurologic symptoms. Prospective, case-control research could support clarifying the pathophysiology of FMF neurologic signs and symptoms.