Özet:

Aim. Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is a critical public health problem all over the world. T-helper 1 cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. There is an increased activity of T-helper 1 in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) patients and carriers. Based on immunity, we undertaken this study to evaluate a possible association of MEFV gene mutations with resistance to tuberculosis. Method. This study was performed with 51 patients (23 females, 28 males) applied to Cumhuriyet University Medical Faculty Chest Diseases Department between 2007 and 2009 and diagnosed with tuberculosis by physical examination, microbiological and radiologic analysis and 57 controls (26 females, 31 males). In these groups, 12 common MEFV gene mutations were researched using revers hybridisation FMF Strip Assay (ViennaLab Labordiagnostika, Vienna, Austria) technique. Results. A significant difference was not detected between patient and control groups in terms of distribution of MEFV mutations (p>0.05). There were 22 MEFV gene mutations (43.1%) in patient group. Homozygous mutation was not detected in this group. All mutations in patient group were heterozygous. There was also no homozygous mutation in control group and total 29 (50.8%) heterozygous mutations were detected. Conclusion. Our results suggested that the mutation frequency of MEFV gene in tuberculosis patients was not significantly different from healthy population. FMF mutations may effect the survive of tuberculosis but not sicken.

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