Iranian South Medical Journal (Nov 2014)
Laboratory features of patients with Brucellosis and its association with titer of Wright agglutination test
Abstract
Background: One of the features of Malta fever is diversity of hematologic manifestations. The Aim of This study was to evaluate hematologic findings of brucellosis and its association with titer of wright agglutination test. Materials & Methods: This study was a cross - sectional and analytical study that was conducted on 189 patients with brucellosis in the Arak in 2011. The diagnostic criteria of the disease were the Wright test and 2-Mercaptoethanol (2ME) agglutinin assay with titers greater than 1:160 and 1:80, respectively, and clinical symptoms compatible with brucellosis. Data were obtained from patient records and were analyzed with SPSS version 16. Results: From 189 patients with Brucellosis who were enrolled in study 67.8% was male, Mean age in men was 37.8±23.3 years and in women 36.9±15.3 years. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 44.5% was between 21- 40 and in 2.1% was above 60. 45% of patients had qualitative CRP levels higher than +2. Leukopenia in 9%, anemia 19%, thrombocytopenia 7.4% was seen. In 27.8% the lymphocyte cell count was predominant. 7.5% of patients had eosinophilia of more than 5% and 4.8% with bicytopenia and 1.6% had pancytopenia. The association between titer of wright test and sex, ESR, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia was not observed, (P>0.05) but with CRP>1+ (P=0.0001) and age over 45 years (P= 0.017 association was significant. Conclusion: Brucellosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis among patients whose blood picture reveals anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or pancytopenia. There is no relation between wright titer and hematologic manifestation. In comparison with similar studies in other countries, hematologic abnormality is lower in our patients.
