Diagnosis of @entity3377 is made by a demonstration of high brucella agglutination titer using the Standard Tube Agglutination Test (SAT) in the presence of compatible clinical symptoms. In an @entity4759 area like Saudi Arabia, persistence of brucella antibodies after recovery from @entity697 is not uncommon. The aim of this study was to monitor brucella antibody titers after successful treatment and clinical cure, and identify factors influencing their persistence. @entity1 clinically cured of @entity697 , who have at least three serological follow-ups, were reviewed retrospectively. A titer of less than 1:320 was considered a "serological cure". One hundred sixteen (116) @entity1 clinically cured of @entity697 were followed up for different lengths of time. All @entity1 had no re-infection or relapse at the end of follow-up. The actuarial life-table analysis showed an increase in proportion of serologically cured from 8.3% in the first three months to 71.4% after two years or more, and the median time for serological cure was 18.5 months (SD = 3 months). In univariate analysis, older age, male gender, and @entity1 treated with less than three antibiotics are more likely to have persistent brucella antibodies of > or = 1:320 (P>0.2). The use of @entity3403 in the treatment was associated with serological cure (51.1% vs. 27.5%) (P<0.05). However, with the Cox regression model none of the variables were statistically significant as a prognostic factor for serological cure (P>.05). In conclusion, brucella antibodies of 1:320 or higher can persist for more than 2 years after successful treatment and clinical cure. Re-evaluation of diagnostic titer of @entity3377 is required in brucella- @entity4759 countries.

Prevalence of Brucella antibodies after XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity697 :: ('MESH:D000208', 'Disease') :: ['acute brucellosis'] @entity3377 :: ('MESH:D002006', 'Disease') :: ['brucellosis'] @entity3403 :: ('MESH:D004318', 'Chemical') :: ['doxycycline'] @entity4759 :: ('MESH:D006043', 'Disease') :: ['endemic']
@entity697 :: (MESH:D000208,Disease) :: ['acute brucellosis']
