Author/Authors :
Ergün, Ufuk Ankara Education and Research Hospital - Ministry of Health - Departments of Neurology , Ertem, Günay T. Ankara Education and Research Hospital - Ministry of Health - Infections Diseases and Microbiology , Kutlu, Gülnihal Ankara Education and Research Hospital - Ministry of Health - Departments of Neurology , Coskun, Ozlem Ankara Education and Research Hospital - Ministry of Health - Departments of Neurology , Inan, Levent E. Ankara Education and Research Hospital - Ministry of Health - Departments of Neurology , Tülek, Necla University Medical School - Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Turkey , Ilhan, Mustafa N. Gazi Üniversitesi - Department of Public Health
Abstract :
Objectives: To investigate whether visual evokedpotentials (VEPs) are valuable for distinguishingbetween brucellosis with or without neurologicalinvolvement.Methods: A total of 23 patients who were admittedto the Department of Infectious Diseases andMicrobiology, and Neurology, Ministry of HealthAnkara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara,Turkey between December 2004 and August2005 with a diagnosis of brucellosis were includedin this study. After a detailed neurological andophthalmological examination, VEPs were recorded.The P100 latencies and amplitudes were comparedbetween the group of brucellosis (n=17) andneurobrucellosis (n=6) patients Results: Although there was no difference in themean P100 latencies between the groups (n=17for brucellosis, and n=6 for neurobrucellosis)(p=0.38), the mean P100 amplitude in patients withneurobrucellosis was significantly lower (p=0.012).Conclusion: It could be emphasized that VEPs mightreflect an underlying axonal pathology as a distinctivefeature in neurobrucellosis.
