Serum C-reactive protein levels during attack-free periods of familial Mediterranean fever

The purpose of this study was to o evaluate whether or not sub-clinical inflammation in attack-free periods of colchicine-taking familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients compared with normal healthy controls, and to determine the effect of colchicine treatment on inflammation inhibition. Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in attack-free, asymptomatic, colchicine-using FMF patients (n = 21) and in normal controls having no family history of FMF (n = 20) were studied. CRP levels were significantly higher in FMF patients than in controls (p < 0.001) in the attack-free period. High CRP levels were observed in FMF patients, which could reflect the presence of sustained inflammation in the attack-free period of these patients.