Neurobrucellosis: an evaluation of a rare presentation of brucellosis from a tertiary care centre in Central Anatolia, Turkey


Demiraslan H., Metan G., Mese E. A., YILDIZ O., AYGEN B., Sumerkan B., ...More

TROPICAL DOCTOR, vol.39, no.4, pp.233-235, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 39 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Doi Number: 10.1258/td.2009.080430
  • Journal Name: TROPICAL DOCTOR
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.233-235
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Nervous system involvement is a rare manifestation of brucellosis. We describe our experience of the diagnosis, treatment and final outcome of patients with neurobrucellosis at the Erciyes University Gevher Nesibe Hospital, a tertiary referral centre in Central Anatolia, Turkey. Thirty-six adult patients were diagnosed with neurobrucellosis from January 1997 to December 2006. Headache and fever were the most common symptoms. Neck stiffness was present in 25 patients. Brucella spp was isolated from the blood of nine patients and from the cerebrospinal fluid of 11. Doxycycline (by mouth) plus rifampin (by mouth) with ceftriaxone (intravenously) were the most common treatment choices. Three patients died as a result of problems other than neurobrucellosis and relapse occurred in one patient. Neurobrucellosis presents with hetoregenous clinical signs.