Seroprevalence of Brucella Antibodies in High-Risk Patients With Low Back Pain: A Case-Control Study

Elham Ahmed Hassan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Brucellosis; Low Back Pain

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Brucella Antibody Testing (ELISA)

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07112677

AUN-BRU-LBP-2024

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this observational case-control study is to assess the presence of Brucella antibodies in patients with low back pain who are at high risk for brucellosis exposure, such as those with animal contact or consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. The main question it aims to answer is:

Is there a significant association between Brucella seropositivity and low back pain in high-risk individuals?

Researchers will compare patients with low back pain to age- and sex-matched healthy controls without back pain but with similar exposure risks, to see if Brucella antibodies are more frequent in the patient group.

Participants will:

Undergo a detailed clinical history and physical examination

Provide blood samples for serological testing using ELISA for Brucella IgG/IgM/IgA

Be evaluated for other symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and joint pain

Enrollment: 100 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults of any sex at high risk of Brucella exposure (e.g., contact with livestock or consumption of unpasteurized dairy products)
• Patients presenting with non-specific low back pain
• Willing and able to provide informed consen

Exclusion criteria

• Evidence of tuberculosis (Pott's disease)
• Evidence of septic spondylitis
• Known metastatic bone lesions
• Known degenerative or autoimmune rheumatologic spinal diseases
• History of prior spinal surgery or trauma

Trial design

100 participants in 1 patient group

Group 1 (Patients): Low Back Pain Group, Group 2 (Controls): Control Group

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Brucella Antibody Testing (ELISA)