Contribution to Diagnosis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Inflammatory Markers in Musculoskeletal Involvement of Brucellosis

ABSTRACT Objective: Musculoskeletal involvement in brucellosis is very important. This study aimed to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and hematological parameters as a predictive value for the diagnosis of musculoskeletal brucellosis. Methods: This prospective case-control study was conducted between June 2011 and November 2019 in a university hospital. Ninety-nine patients with the confirmed diagnosis of brucellosis without musculoskeletal involvement and forty-three brucellosis patients with musculoskeletal involvement were examined. The hematological, biochemical parameters, and radiological imaging findings of both groups were recorded. These parameters were statistically compared between the two groups. Results: The mean age of the patients (non-involvement group) and musculoskeletal involvement groups was 44.04 ± 23.11 and 37.92 ± 24.80 years, respectively (P = 0.062). C-reactive protein (CRP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were significantly higher in the musculoskeletal involvement group (P < 0.05). The lower lymphocyte level was statistically significant in this group. Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the sensitivity and specificity were 70% and 65% for ALP, 77% and 58% for CRP, 83% and 45% for lymphopenia, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the other hematological and biochemical parameters. Spondylodiscitis (34.8%) was the most common MRI finding in patients with musculoskeletal involvement. Conclusions: Our study results show that CRP, ALP, and lymphopenia can be used as valuable markers in the preliminary diagnosis of musculoskeletal brucellosis.