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Musculoskeletal involvement of brucellosis in different age groups: a study of 195 cases
Mehmet Faruk Geyik1, Ali Gür, Kemal Nas
1Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Dicle University Medical Faculty, Diyarbakir, Turkey. mefgeyik@dicle.edu.tr
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to determine the distribution and characteristics of arthritis in 195 patients with musculoskeletal involvement due to brucellosis in different age groups in the southeastern region of Turkey.
Patients And Methods:
We carried out a retrospective analysis of 283 patients with brucellosis records and identified 195 with musculoskeletal involvement. Patients were classified into acutesubacute (<12 months) and chronic (>12 months) brucellosis. Patients were also classified into three age groups: <15 years old (group A), 15-45 years (group B), and over 45 years (group C). In addition, patients were classified into five subgroups according to type of arthritis: peripheral arthritis, polyarthritis, spondylitis, sacroiliitis, and spondylitis/sacroiliitis.
Results:
195 (69%) of the 283 patients [138 female (49%), 145 male (51%)] had musculoskeletal involvement. Of the patients with musculoskeletal involvement 113 (58%) were female and 82 (42%) were male, ranging in age from 3 to 71 years (mean age 33.14 +/- 15.03). Of 195 patients studied, 39 (14%) were <15 years old (group A), 122 (43%) were aged 15-45 (group B), and 34 (12%) were over 45 (group C). The most commonly affected joints were the sacroiliac joint in 108 patients (55%), peripheral joints in 106 (54%), and spondylitis in 60 (31%). Of 108 patients with sacroiliitis, 19 were in group A, 76 in group B, and 13 in group C. Bilateral sacroiliitis was less common in group B (23 patients) than in groups A (3) and C (3) (p <0.05). Spondylitis was more common in group B (18%). Sacroiliitis and polyarthritis were more common than other types of musculoskeletal involvement in females, whereas in males the distribution of all types was similar. In patients aged under 15 and 15-45, sacroiliitis and polyarthritis were common compared with other types of arthritis, but the distribution was similar in patients over 45.
Conclusion:
In southeastern Anatolia musculoskeletal involvement in brucellosis is frequent. The series presented suggests that musculoskeletal involvement in group A is higher than groups A and C. The prevalence of musculoskeletal involvement appears to differ according to age, sex and clinical type.
Insights
Brucellosis frequently causes musculoskeletal issues in southeastern Turkey. Arthritis patterns vary significantly by patient age and sex, with sacroiliitis and polyarthritis being common in younger individuals.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Musculoskeletal involvement is a common complication of brucellosis, affecting joints and the spine.
- Understanding the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of brucellosis-related arthritis is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution and characteristics of arthritis in patients with brucellosis-induced musculoskeletal involvement.
- To analyze these characteristics across different age groups in southeastern Turkey.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 283 brucellosis patient records.
- Identification of 195 patients with musculoskeletal involvement.
- Classification based on brucellosis duration (acute/chronic), age groups (<15, 15-45, >45 years), and arthritis type (peripheral, polyarthritis, spondylitis, sacroiliitis, spondylitis/sacroiliitis).
Main Results:
- Musculoskeletal involvement was present in 69% of brucellosis patients (195/283).
- The most common sites affected were sacroiliac joints (55%), peripheral joints (54%), and spine (spondylitis, 31%).
- Sacroiliitis and polyarthritis were more prevalent in females and in younger age groups (<15 and 15-45 years).
Conclusions:
- Musculoskeletal involvement in brucellosis is frequent in southeastern Anatolia.
- The prevalence and type of arthritis in brucellosis exhibit significant variations based on age and sex.
- Age appears to be a key factor influencing the pattern of brucellosis-related arthritis.