[Differences between tuberculous spondylitis and brucellar spondylitis].
OBJECTIVE
To identify potential differences in the clinical and laboratory characteristics between tuberculous spondylitis (TS) and brucellar spondylitis (BS).


METHODS
Retrospective study of patients with TS and BS diagnosed in our hospital between january 1992 and december 1998.


RESULTS
TS was diagnosed in 17 patients and BS in 10 patients. In our series, a higher delay in the diagnosis (27.9 +/- 24.6 vs. 16 +/- 5.6 weeks, p = 0.02) was found in TS. There was a higher frequency, but without stadistic significance, of immunosuppression, one or several paravertebral or epidural abscesses, spinal cord compression, anemia and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate in TS, and a higher frequency of fever/febricule and residual vertebral pain in BS. Lumbar location was the most frequent in both groups (58.8% in TS and 70% in BS).


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible that there were some differences in the clinical and laboratory characteristics between TS and BS which may be an aid in the differential diagnosis of both entities and orient the empirical treatment in these cases without a definitive microbiological diagnosis or while awaiting the diagnostic confirmation.
Calvo Romero
J M
JM
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Regional Universitario Infanta Cristina, Badajoz.
Ramos Salado
J L
JL
García de la Llana
F
F
Bureo Dacal
J C
JC
Bureo Dacal
P
P
Pérez Miranda
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis*