Diagnostic significance of hematological parameters in brucellosis

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Changes in hematological parameters are frequently observed in brucellosis patients. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the diagnostic significance of some hematological parameters in patients with brucellosis<b>.</b><br /> <b>Material and methods: </b>In this case-control study, the data of brucellosis patients and healthy volunteers followed up in the Outpatient Clinic of Infectious Diseases between 2018 and 2020 were retrospectively examined. In the hemogram examination of patients with brucellosis and health volunteers; hematological parameters such as the leukocyte, hemoglobin, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, platelet, ratio of neutrophil/lymphocyte, ratio of platelet/lymphocyte, ratio of monocyte/lymphocyte and mean platelet volume were compared.<br /> <b>Results: </b>255 people, 169 (66.3%) of whom were diagnosed with brucellosis and 86 (33.7%) from the control group, were included to the study. These participants of 112 (43.9%) were male and 143 (56.1%) were female. The patients diagnosed with brucellosis, of 62 (36.7%) were considered acute, of 62 (36.7%) subacute, and of 45 (26.6%) chronic brucellosis. leukocyte, hemoglobin, neutrophil, and neutrophil/lymphocyte levels were found to be lower in the brucellosis group compared to the control group, while mean platelet volume level was found to be higher. Hemoglobin was found to be lower and mean platelet volume higher in all brucellosis subgroups.<br /> <b>Conclusion: </b>In this study, the following findings were determined to be important: the lowness of leucocyte and hemoglobin and highness of mean platelet volume in brucellosis patients, as well as the highness of lymphocyte levels and lowness of neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte levels in the subacute brucellosis subgroup. In addition, it was concluded that the mean platelet volume parameter can be used as a diagnostic test for brucellosis.