BRUCELLAR SACROILIITIS - FINDINGS IN 63 EPISODES AND CURRENT RELEVANCE

Between 1974 and 1989 we prospectively observed 530 patients with bruc ellosis. The findings for 62 patients (42 males and 20 females; mean a ge, 34.7 years) with 63 episodes in which the sacroiliac joint was inv olved (the most frequent osteoartictilar location [11.7%]) were analyz ed. Ten of the older patients (mean age, 55.3 years) had concomitant s pondylitis. Systemic symptoms were usually important, and characterist ic pain and findings of sacroiliitis were observed in approximately 75 % of cases. Blood cultures were positive tor Brucella melitensis for 4 4 patients. The most frequent radiographic findings were blurring of a rticular margins (42 cases) and widening of the sacroiliac space (20 c ases). No radiographic anomalies were detected in 13 cases. Results of Tc-99m and gallium-67 bone scans were abnormal in approximately 90% o f cases (abnormalities were often mild). Overall, clinical, radiograph ic, and isotopic bone scan findings were sensitive and useful, althoug h they were occasionally minimal or difficult to evaluate, making diag nostic findings confusing or misleading. Brucellar sacroiliitis is a m ild disease associated with a good outcome similar to that observed fo r patients with uncomplicated brucellosis.