Clinical and functional impact of central sensitization on patients with familial Mediterranean fever: a cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to investigate the frequency of CS and its clinical and functional effects on familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). A hundred FMF patients were included in this study. The presence of CS was investigated by the central sensitization inventory (CSI). In addition to the detailed clinical features of patients and genetic mutations, quality of life, disability, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and fibromyalgia frequency were examined to evaluate the negative effects of CS on the individual. Patients were divided into groups according to the presence and severity of CS, and their results were compared. Correlation and multivariate regression analysis were performed to investigate the association of CS  with selected demographic and clinical parameters. The mean CSI was 37.72 (SD: 19.35), and thirty-eight (38%) patients had CS. Sacroiliitis occurred in 11 patients (11%), amyloidosis in 3 (3%), and erysipelas-like erythema in 11 (11%). The most prevalent genetic mutation was M694/any compound heterogeneous (35.7%), followed by M69V homogeneous (30%). Regarding comparing the patients with and without CS, the number of attacks, disease activity, daily colchicine dose, and all investigated comorbidities were significantly higher in the patients with CS (p < 0.05). In regression analysis, gender, colchicine dose and sleep disturbance were detected as related parameters with CS (OR (95% CI): 6.05 (1.39; 26.32), p: 0.017, OR (95% CI): 6.69 (1.65; 27.18), p: 0.008, OR (95% CI): 1.35 (1.35; 1.59), p: 0.001, respectively). Concomitant pain sensitization appears to be related to FMF patients' clinical and functional characteristics. These results suggest taking into consideration CS in the management of FMF patients.