The spectrum of diseases causing fever of unknown origin in Turkey: a multicenter study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this trial was to determine the spectrum of diseases with fever of unknown origin (FUO) in Turkey.


METHODS
A prospective multicenter study of 154 patients with FUO in twelve Turkish tertiary-care hospitals was conducted.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 42+/-17 years (range 17-75). Fifty-three (34.4%) had infectious diseases (ID), 47 (30.5%) had non-infectious inflammatory diseases (NIID), 22 (14.3%) had malignant diseases (MD), and eight (5.2%) had miscellaneous diseases (Mi). In 24 (15.6%) of the cases, the reason for high fever could not be determined despite intensive efforts. The most common ID etiologies were tuberculosis (13.6%) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (3.2%). Adult Still's disease was the most common NIID (13.6%) and hematological malignancy was the most common MD (7.8%). In patients with NIID, the mean duration of reaching a definite diagnosis (37+/-23 days) was significantly longer compared to the patients with ID (25+/-12 days) (p=0.007). In patients with MD, the mean duration of fever (51+/-35 days) was longer compared to patients with ID (37+/-38 days) (p=0.052).


CONCLUSIONS
Although infection remains the most common cause of FUO, with the highest percentage for tuberculosis, non-infectious etiologies seem to have increased when compared with previous studies.
Kucukardali
Yasar
Y
Department of Internal Medicine, GATA Haydarpasa Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Oncul
Oral
O
Cavuslu
Saban
S
Danaci
Mehmet
M
Calangu
Semra
S
Erdem
Hakan
H
Topcu
Ayse Willke
AW
Adibelli
Zuhal
Z
Akova
Murat
M
Karaali
Emel Azak
EA
Ozel
Ahmet Melih
AM
Bolaman
Zahit
Z
Caka
Bulent
B
Cetin
Birsen
B
Coban
Erkan
E
Karabay
Oguz
O
Karakoc
Cagla
C
Karan
Mehmet Akif
MA
Korkmaz
Selda
S
Sahin
Gulsen Ozkaya
GO
Pahsa
Alaaddin
A
Sirmatel
Fatma
F
Solmazgul
Emrullah
E
Ozmen
Namik
N
Tokatli
Ilyas
I
Uzun
Cengiz
C
Yakupoglu
Gulsen
G
Besirbellioglu
Bulent Ahmet
BA
Gul
Hanefi Cem
HC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology