Increased Corneal Ectasia Risk in Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the corneal tomographical parameters in patients with familial mediterranean fever and to compare data with those of healthy control subjects.

METHODS

Forty eyes of 40 patients with familial mediterranean fever (familial mediterranean fever group) and 35 eyes of 35 healthy subjects (control group) were included to this prospective study. All participants underwent complete ophthalmological examination and tomographical analysis with Pentacam HR. Maximum keratometry, front and back astigmatism, thinnest pachymetry, maximum anterior and posterior elevation best-fit-sphere (BFS) at the 5.0 mm zone, front and back difference elevation, final D, average and maximum pachymetric progression index, maximum Ambrósio relational thickness parameters were noted.

RESULTS

Groups were similar in terms of age and gender (p = 0.77 and p = 0.35). Maximum keratometry, thinnest pachymetry, front and back astigmatism, maximum anterior elevation BFS at the 5.0 mm values were similar between groups (p = 0.22, p = 0.52, p = 0.49, p = 0.29, and p = 0.31, respectively). Maximum posterior elevation BFS at the 5.0 mm and back difference elevation values were higher than control group in familial mediterranean fever group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.04). The mean values of final D, average and maximum pachymetric progression index were higher, and Ambrósio relational thickness was lower in familial mediterranean fever group compared to control group (p = 0.03, p = 0.002, p = 0.006, and p = 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Familial mediterranean fever patients carry increased corneal ectasia risk compared to healthy subjects. The corneal tomographical characteristics and the association of keratoconus with familial mediterranean fever may be important in a detailed refractive surgery work-up.