Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings in Patients with Brucellosis

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the demographic data, laboratory and clinical findings and organ involvement of patients diagnosed with brucellosis. Materials and Methods: The patients were divided into groups according to sex (female/male) and age (≤40 years/>40 years and ≤30 years, 31-44 years, 45-59 years, and ≥60 years). Results: A total of 238 patients were assessed. Among those, 57.5% (n=137) were male, and the mean age was 43.8±15.0 years. Arthralgia (93.7%, n=223), myalgia (84.9%, n=202), and fatigue (84.5%, n=201) were the most common clinical symptoms. In female patients, myalgia (92.1% vs. 79.6%, p=0.008), fatigue (92.1% vs. 78.8%, p=0.005), headache (38.6% vs. 25.5%, p=0.031), and nausea (32.7% vs. 13.9%, p=0.001) were more common, whereas loss of appetite (43.5% vs. 59.9%, p=0.013) was less common. Weight loss (48.0% vs. 34.3%, p=0.034) and sacroiliitis (13.2% vs. 5.0%, p=0.029) were more common, whereas spondylodiscitis (2.0% vs. 9.3%, p=0.039) was less common in younger patients (≤40 years). Weight loss was more common in the ≤30 age group compared to the 31-44 age (55.8% vs. 32.8%, p=0.013) and 45-69 age groups (55.8% vs. 35.3%, p=0.019). Fever was less common in the ≤30 age group compared to the 45-59 age group (32.7% vs. 54.1%, p=0.015). Conclusion: In endemic areas, brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with arthralgia, myalgia, fatigue, leukopenia or leukocytosis, and elevated ESR and CRP. Patients ≤40 years with brucellosis should be evaluated for sacroiliitis, and patients >40 years should be evaluated for spondylodiscitis complications.