Risk factors for focal involvement in brucellosis

Abstract

PurposeWe aimed to evaluate the risk factors of focal involvement in brucellosis. MethodsThe data of brucellosis patients were analyzed retrospectively from 2010 through 2019. Patients were divided into two groups: focal involvement (−) and focal involvement (+). The clinical findings, complications and laboratory findings of patients were compared between the two groups. ResultsTwo hundred thirty patients were included in the study. One hundred twenty-seven of the patients (55.2%) were male and mean age was 45.8 ± 17.1 (16–86) years. Focal involvement was observed in 98 (42.6%) patients. The variables that differed significantly between groups were age (P < 0.001), fever (P = 0.016), back pain (P < 0.001), leukocyte (P = 0.012), neutrophil (P = 0.004), platelet (P = 0.002), mean platelet volume (MPV) (P = 0.043) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P = 0.001). Older age (>45 years) and back pain were found to be independent risk factors for predicting focal involvement (P = 0.036 and P < 0.001). ConclusionsThe clinical findings and markers that are significant in determining focal involvement may be useful in identifying complicated brucellosis.