| Author/Editor | Lotrič-Furlan, Stanka; Petrovec, Miroslav; Avšič-Županc, Tatjana; Logar, Mateja; Strle, Franc | |
| Title | Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory distinction between human granulocytic ehrlichiosis and the initial phase of tick-borne encephalitis | |
| Type | članek | |
| Source | Wien Klin Wochenschr | |
| Vol. and No. | Letnik 114, št. 13-14 | |
| Publication year | 2002 | |
| Volume | str. 636-40 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Abstract | Objective: To establish epidemiological, clinical and laboratory differences between adult patients with proven acute human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) and patients with the initial phase of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Methods: Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory findings were compared in nine patients with acute HGE (established by the presence of specific DNA sequences of Ehrlichia phagocytophila in whole blood by polymerase chain reaction and/or by seroconversion or at least a fourfold change of serum antibody titres to E. phagocytophila by indirect immuhofluorescence assay) and 29 patients with the initial phase of TBE (demonstrated in ELISA tests by the presence of serum IgM antibodies to TBE virus). Results: Findings were similar for the majority of the general parameters examined, which included sex, age, incubation period, duration of fever, and frequency of additional tick bites. However, a statistically significant difference was found for the duration of fever before the first visit (median 7 days in patients with acute HGE and 4 days in patients with the initial phase of TBE; p=0.0169), and for the frequency of hospitalisation, which was higher for patients with the initial phase of TBE (29/29) than for those with acute HGE (5/9; p=0.0017). Comparison of clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory findings in the two groups revealed significant differences: in patients with acute HGE there was a higher frequency of chills (4/9 versus 3/29, respectively; p=0.0407), myalgia (8/9 versus 13/29, respectively; p=0.0263), and arthralgia (7/9 versus 3/29, respectively; p=0.0003), and elevated values of lactate dehydrogenase (7/9 versus 3/29, respectively; p=0.0003) and concentration of C-reactive protein (9/9 versus 6/29, respectively; p=0.0000). (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters) | |
| Descriptors | EHRLICHIOSIS ENCEPHALITIS, TICK-BORNE ADULT SEQUENCE ANALYSIS, DNA EHRLICHIA POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION ANTIBODIES, BACTERIAL FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, INDIRECT ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY IGM |