Short-course treatment in neurobrucellosis: a study in Iran

Neurol India. 2011 Jan-Feb;59(1):101-3. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.76879.

Abstract

Neurobrucellosis is a rare neurological complication of brucellosis. This report describes 19 patients of neurobrucellosis and they accounted for 8% of all cases of brucellosis admitted to Shiraz University Hospitals over a period of eight years. Headache, fever, fatigue, drowsiness and neck stiffness were the common clinical features. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed pleocytosis in 100%, elevated protein levels in 89% and low glucose level in 47% of the patients. All the patients improved with specific antibiotic treatment. Of the 19 patients, 10 (52.5%) patients received treatment for 8 to 28 weeks. Duration of antibiotic treatment was: 8-14 weeks in 8 (42%) patients; 24-28 weeks in 2 (10.5%) patients; 6 months in 7 (37%) patients; 12 months in 1 (5.3%) patient; and 18 months in 1 (5.3%) patient. Clinicians in endemic areas should consider the likelihood of neurobrucellosis in patients with unexplained neurological and psychiatric symptoms.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Iran / epidemiology
  • Leukocytosis / etiology
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / epidemiology
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / physiopathology
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Glucose