Serum Vitamin B12 Status in Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever Receiving Colchicine Treatment

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of colchicine on serum vitamin B12 status in children with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). Settings and Design: The Tel Hashomer criteria had been used to establish the diagnosis of FMF. Colchicine treatment was initiated by age based dosage schedule to each patient. Methods and Material: This study was cross sectional. Serum vitamin B12 levels were measured before and during colchicine treatment in 42 children with FMF. Results: Twenty-two girls and 20 boys, with a mean age of 11.7 +/- 4.5 years, were included in the study. The mean duration of colchicine treatment was 2.5 +/- 2.6 years. The daily colchicine doses ranged between 0.0077 to 0.0741 mg/kg. There was a significant difference between first and control visit mean serum vitamin B12 levels, 418 pg/ml and 240 pg/ml respectively (p<0.0001). Control visit serum vitamin B12 levels had no statistically important correlation to the duration of colchicine treatment (r=-0.287, p=0.065) but there was a significant correlation to the daily colchicine doses. (r=+0.349, p=0.025) Conclusions: The present study showed that long term administration of colchicine led to a decrease (subnormal) in the serum vitamin B12 levels. Therefore, serum vitamin B12 levels should be evaluated regularly in FMF patients receiving colchicine treatment.