title: Treatment Efficacy and Risk Factors of Neurobrucellosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to analyze the risk factors and treatment efficacy of neurobrucellosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional epidemiologic survey was carried out in 557 patients with brucellosis by specially trained neurologic clinicians. Sixty-six patients with neurobrucellosis were treated with doxycycline, rifampicin, and ceftriaxone sodium as standard medication and evaluated for efficacy on a regular basis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Symptoms improved in most patients after 6 weeks of treatment, which demonstrated a favorable efficacy. (2) Cross-sectional epidemiologic survey suggested that sex, nationality, and regional distribution were not related to nervous system damage in patients with brucellosis (P>0.05), whereas age and duration of disease were related factors. Increased age as well as a prolonged duration of disease were risk factors for nervous system damage in patients with brucellosis (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (1) Doxycycline, rifampicin, and third-generation cephalosporins should be considered both standard and first-choice medications for neurobrucellosis. Treatment should last for at least 6 weeks. Standardized, sufficient, and combined medication is recommended for better efficacy and prognosis. (2) Age and duration of disease are risk factors for neurobrucellosis, whereas sex, nationality, and regional distribution are not. Older patients with a prolonged duration of disease are more likely to develop neurobrucellosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Shigang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Zhelin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Xuhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Shujun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009420:Nervous System / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome