Skip to main content

Table 2 Clinical characteristics of 31 patients at baseline in the two groups

From: Doxycycline plus streptomycin versus ciprofloxacin plus rifampicin in spinal brucellosis [ISRCTN31053647]

Characteristic

DS (n = 15)

CR (n = 16)

Median age [yr] (range)

48 (16–65)

68 (25–83)

Male (%)

9 (60)

8 (50)

Brucellosis risk factor

  

   Occupational exposure (%)

1 (6.7)

8 (44.4)

   Ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products (%)

14 (93.3)

14 (87.5)

Duration of symptoms before therapy (weeks)

  

   Mean ± SD

14.9 ± 13.0

15.3 ± 12.0

   Median (range)

12 (2–40)

14 (2–48)

Operation before therapy n (%)

0

5 (31)

Symptoms

n (%)

n (%)

Malaise

12 (80)

15 (94)

Back pain

14 (93)

14 (88)

Arthralgia

13 (87)

14 (88)

Sweating

11 (73)

15 (94)

Anorexia

7 (47)

15 (89)

Fever

9 (60)

11 (69)

Myalgia

9 (60)

11 (69)

Nausea

4 (27)

5 (31)

Abdominal pain

2 (13)

5 (31)

Vomiting

2 (13)

2 (13)

Findings

  

   Fever

1

3

   Hepatomegaly

2

1

   Splenomegaly

0

1

   Laseque test positivity

5

8

Clinical spectrums (duration of symptoms)

  

   Acute (<8 weeks)

6

5

   Subacute (8–52 weeks)

9

10

Chronic (>52 weeks)

0

1

Patients hospitalised

3

6

Laboratory findings of 31 patients at baseline in the two groups

Laboratory finding

DS (n = 15) (%)

CR (n = 16) (%)

Anemia

4 (27)

7 (44)

Leucocytosis

0

2 (13)

Median ESR

22 (3–110)

54 (2–88)

Median CRP

  

Before therapy

33 (3–151)

53 (3–140)

After therapy

3 (3–5)

5 (3–14)

Median agglutination titer (range)

320 (160–2560)

320 (160–1280)

Positive blood culture (%)

0

4 (22)