Kursun Ebru, Turunc Tuba, Demiroglu Yusuf, Arslan Hande
Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Baskent University School of Medicine, Turkey.
Intern Med. 2013;52(7):745-50. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.52.9048. Epub 2013 Apr 1.
Brucellosis remains as a widespread zoonosis, both worldwide and in our country that causes serious public health problems with the potential to create disease in humans and animals. The aim of the present study was to examine the characteristics of brucellosis patients followed in our clinic and to compare these cases with those reported in the literature.
Four hundred and forty-seven patients who were treated in our clinic between March 2004 and March 2011 for a diagnosis of brucellosis and who were followed for one year after the completion of treatment were retrospectively examined. Data for the patients were obtained using brucellosis follow-up forms.
Of the 447 patients, 261 (58.4%) were women, and the mean age was 48±17 years. Focal organ involvement was detected in 178 (40%) cases, with the musculoskeletal system being the leading site (30.6%), followed by the central nervous system (5.4%). Spondylodiscitis exhibited a significant correlation with an advanced age, a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level on admission (p=0.001, p=0.0001 and p=0.001, respectively). A significant correlation was found between sacroiliitis and a younger age (p=0.003). Relapse was observed in 35 (7.8%) cases.
The present study allowed us to scrutinize the characteristics and complications of patients with brucellosis. Focal organ involvement of the musculoskeletal system was observed in the present cases, particularly spondylodiscitis and sacroiliitis. Spondylodiscitis was detected in elderly patients with high CRP and ESR values, whereas sacroiliitis was seen in younger patients. We believe that age, symptom duration and laboratory parameters should be evaluated in patients with brucellosis and that older patients in particular should be precisely examined for bone and joint complications.
布鲁氏菌病在全球及我国仍是一种广泛传播的人畜共患病，会引发严重的公共卫生问题，有可能在人和动物身上致病。本研究的目的是检查在我们诊所接受治疗的布鲁氏菌病患者的特征，并将这些病例与文献报道的病例进行比较。
回顾性检查了2004年3月至2011年3月期间在我们诊所接受布鲁氏菌病诊断治疗且治疗结束后随访一年的447例患者。使用布鲁氏菌病随访表获取患者数据。
447例患者中，261例（58.4%）为女性，平均年龄为48±17岁。178例（40%）病例检测到局灶性器官受累，其中肌肉骨骼系统是主要受累部位（30.6%），其次是中枢神经系统（5.4%）。脊柱炎与高龄、入院时红细胞沉降率（ESR）和C反应蛋白（CRP）水平升高显著相关（分别为p = 0.001、p = 0.0001和p = 0.001）。骶髂关节炎与较年轻的年龄显著相关（p = 0.003）。35例（7.8%）病例出现复发。
本研究使我们能够仔细研究布鲁氏菌病患者的特征和并发症。在本病例中观察到肌肉骨骼系统的局灶性器官受累，尤其是脊柱炎和骶髂关节炎。在CRP和ESR值高的老年患者中检测到脊柱炎，而在年轻患者中发现骶髂关节炎。我们认为，对于布鲁氏菌病患者，应评估年龄、症状持续时间和实验室参数，特别是老年患者，应仔细检查是否存在骨和关节并发症。
