Objective: To assess the frequency and clinical manifestations of osteoarticular brucellosis in an Atlantic area of Spain.
Methods: The case histories of all patients older than 14 years of age with active brucellosis diagnosed at the Hospital Xeral-Calde, Lugo, Spain, between October 1979 and October 1997 were reviewed. Diagnosis of brucellosis was by one of the following criteria: isolation of brucella species in blood or other fluids or tissue samples; or a clinical picture compatible with brucellosis in the presence of raised titers of specific antibodies by seroagglutination or Rose-Bengal plate agglutination tests.
Results: Forty-four patients (34 men, 10 women) of the 158 patients diagnosed with brucellosis (27.8%) had osteoarticular complications. Spondylitis (20/44; 45.5%) and sacroiliitis (15/44; 34.1%) were the most common complications. Patients with spondylitis were older and had a more chronic disease course than those with sacroiliitis or peripheral arthritis. Brucella abortus was the pathogenic strain responsible for human brucellosis in this region of Spain.
Conclusion: In the Lugo region of Northwestern Spain osteoarticular brucellosis principally affects males and mainly involves spine and sacroiliac joints.