Neurobrucellosis; a clinical experience

ABSTRACT

The study included 15 patients with neurobrucellosis referred for accurate evaluation of their obscure neurological deficits. Patients were grouped into 8 cases with CNS infection [4 cases with meningitis, 3 cases with encephalitis, 1 case with meningoencephalitis], 2 cases with myelopathy [one suffering from compression myelopathy at C5, and one suffering from myelitis at D11 - 12, 2 cases with isolated mononeuritis [one with III nerve, and with radial nerve affection], 2 cases with polyneuropathy [one with pure motor polyneuropathy and one with sensorimotor affection] and one case with meningovascular brucellosis presented with hemiparesis. ELISA test for blood and CSF seemed to be the most accurate diagnostic tool. A definite therapeutic response was found in all patients using a combination of trimethoprim sulfamethoxasole and rifampicin. Neurobrucellosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of any unexplained neurological syndrome in certain areas of the world including Egypt