The role of Brucellacapt test for follow-up patients with brucellosis

The dynamic of Brucellacapt titers was evaluated in 104 patients with brucellosis with favorable outcome and in 28 patients with persistent illness duration, during the follow-up period of 15 months. In patients with favorable outcome, a permanently decreasing tendency of Brucellacapt titers was evident. Titers <= 1/320 were noted in 27% and 90% of the patients, at the end of the 4th and 15th month, respectively. In patients with persistent disease, persistence or slow titre regression during the entire follow-up period was evident. Four and 15 months of the treatment, titers of 1/320 were registered in 4%, and 14%, respectively, and in no one less than 1/320. The evaluation of Brucellacapt titres between recovered and patients with persistent illness showed significant difference at the 3rd month after beginning of treatment. The evolution of Brucellacapt titers over time proves to be a handy indicator of brucellosis activity when combined with clinical parameters. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.