Ocular Involvement in Patients with Brucellosis: A Single-Center Prospective Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, type and treatment outcomes of ocular involvement in patients with brucellosis.

This prospective, single-center study enrolled patients admitted to the infectious disease outpatient clinic with diagnosed brucellosis between July 15, 2022 and July 15, 2023. Diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms and a standard Brucella tube agglutination test (≥1/160) or a positive blood culture. Ophthalmologic examinations were performed at baseline and in the first month of treatment. Third and sixth month follow-up examinations were also performed for patients with ocular findings.

Ocular involvement occurred in 60 (24.8%) of 242 patients. Conjunctivitis was the most common ocular involvement and was observed in 39 patients (16.1%). Uveitis was the second most common ocular involvement in 14 patients (5.8%). Scleritis was the least common ocular involvement and was observed in only one patient. Patients with ocular involvement were older (p = 0.027) and had higher rates of weight loss and spondylodiscitis (p = 0.044 and 0.001, respectively). Among laboratory parameters, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly higher in patients with ocular involvement (p = 0.001 and 0.036, respectively). There were no significant differences in other demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics between patients with and without ocular involvement. In 56 (93.3%) patients, the ocular findings improved during the follow-up examination.

Brucellosis, a systemic infection, can manifest with ocular involvement. Early detection and treatment through ophthalmological examination are crucial in managing brucellosis.