Abstract
BackgroundBrucellosis is an important public health problem in China. Brucellosis can cause many osteoarticular changes, especially chronic brucellosis. Brucellosis presents various diagnostic difficulties because it mimics many other diseases. Because of the poor sensitivity and ability of X-ray image, it is necessary to find a good method of early diagnosis for osteoarticular changes among brucellosis patients at an early period.The aim of this study was to find early changes biomarkers for osteoarticular changes among brucellosis patients at an early period and provide a better understanding of the osteoarticular changes in this disease at an early stage.MethodsSixty-one cases of brucellosis patients at an early period (within 6 months) and 67 cases of volunteers were selected and divided into brucellosis vs. control groups. Serum samples were detected with serological tests for brucellosis, including rose bengal plate test (RBPT), agglutination test (SAT), and IgG and IgM with ELISA. Meanwhile, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and neopterin (NPT) levels in all samples were measured simultaneously with ELISA. The data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 software.ResultsTogether with the clinical examination, epidemiological investigation, and serological tests of RBPT, SAT, and IgG and IgM with ELISA, the patients from brucellosis group all were diagnosed as brucellosis cases at an early period, while the results of RBPT, SAT, and IgG and IgM with ELISA from the healthy control group were negative. Comparing with the healthy control, the medians of serum NPT and COMP in the patients group were 9.26 ng/l, 1.70 ng, respectively, which were higher than that of the healthy control group with significant differences (Z = 5.512, 3.614, all p = 0.000).ConclusionThe serum NPT and COMP levels of brucellosis patients at an early period were increased. The serum NPT and COMP levels might be the indicator biomarker for osteoarticular changes of human brucellosis at an early stage.
Highlights
Brucellosis is an important public health problem in China
Sixty-one brucellosis patients were rose bengal plate test (RBPT) positive, and these patients were confirmed by serum agglutination test (SAT)
All the brucellosis patients were positive for RBPT and SAT (Table 2)
Summary
Brucellosis is an important public health problem in China. Brucellosis can cause many osteoarticular changes, especially chronic brucellosis. Brucellosis presents various diagnostic difficulties because it mimics many other diseases. Because of the poor sensitivity and ability of X-ray image, it is necessary to find a good method of early diagnosis for osteoarticular changes among brucellosis patients at an early period. Brucellosis can be regarded as an important public health problem in China. With a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, brucellosis presents various diagnostic difficulties because it mimics many other diseases [4]. According to the diagnostic criteria of human brucellosis in China (WS269-2007), most of the chronic brucellosis patients present the osteoarticular changes. Because of the poor sensitivity and early diagnostic ability of X-ray image, osteoarticular changes became the main clinical manifestations among chronic brucellosis. It is necessary to find early osteoarticular changes among human brucellosis at an early period for early prevention and control
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
