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Inicio Medicina Clínica (English Edition) Classic fever of unknown origin: Analysis of a cohort of 87 patients according t...
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Vol. 156. Issue 5.
Pages 206-213 (March 2021)
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Vol. 156. Issue 5.
Pages 206-213 (March 2021)
Original article
Classic fever of unknown origin: Analysis of a cohort of 87 patients according to the definition with qualitative study criterion
Fiebre de origen desconocido clásica: análisis de una cohorte de 87 pacientes según la definición con criterio de estudio cualitativo
Joaquim Torné Cachot
Corresponding author
18112jtc@comb.cat

Corresponding author.
, José Manuel Baucells Azcona, Jesús Blanch Falp, Helena Camell Ilari
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Sant Camil, Consorci Sanitari Alt Penedès-Garraf, San Pere de Ribes, Barcelona, Spain
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Tables (3)
Table 1. Final diagnoses of patients with classic fever of unknown origin.
Table 2. Indications with potential diagnosis identified in the anamnesis, physical examination and prior obligatory study in patients with fever of unknown origin.
Table 3. Clinical characteristics of patients with fever of unknown origin according to diagnostic categories.
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Abstract
Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of fever of unknown origin (FUO) according to the definition with qualitative study criterion and of patients without diagnosis.

Materials and methods

Prospective observational study performed from 2009 to 2017 of all patients who were diagnosed with FUO according to the extended definition with qualitative study criterion. Demographic, clinical, diagnostic and evolving variables were evaluated.

Results

Of the 87 patients registered, 17.3% presented criteria of inflammation of unknown origin (IUO). The diagnoses were: non-infectious inflammatory diseases (NIID) in 19 patients (21.8%), infections in 15 (17.2%), miscellaneous in 14 (16.1%), malignant diseases in 13 (15%) and without diagnosis in 26 (29.9%). In 17.6% of the cases, a potentially diagnostic clue (PDC) was identified. The patients without diagnosis were characterized by a lower number of total PDC (5.9 ± 3.3 vs. 8.7 ± 3.4; P = .000), fewer clinical signs (.4 ± .6 vs. .9 ± .8; P = .001), a smaller number of tests in the previous study (2.7 ± 2.1 vs. 4.6 ± 2; P = .000), a shorter diagnostic interval (14.6 ± 7.7 days vs. 21.4 ± 9.5 days; P = .029) and less alteration of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (52.3 ± 41.3 mm/h vs. 89.8 ± 42.7 mm/h; P = .000), haemoglobin (12.9 ± 1.7 g/dl vs. 11.7 ± 1.6 g/dl; P = .003) and albumin (36.9 ± 6.4 g/l vs. 33.2 ± 7.2 g/l; P = .025). 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography combined with computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/TC) proved to be helpful in 37% of the cases. Mortality was 6.8%.

Conclusions

The definition of FUO with qualitative study criterion incorporates a diagnostic protocol that provides clear benefits in terms of cost-effectiveness.

Keywords:
Classic fever of unknown origin
Inflammation of unknown origin
Definition with qualitative study criterion
18F-fluorodeoxyglucosepositron-emission tomography combined with computed tomography
Resumen
Objetivos

Evaluar las características de la fiebre de origen desconocida (FOD) según la definición con criterio de estudio cualitativo y de los pacientes sin diagnóstico.

Material y métodos

Estudio prospectivo observacional realizado entre 2009-2017 de todos los pacientes diagnosticados de FOD según la definición con criterio de estudio cualitativo ampliada. Se evaluaron variables demográficas, clínicas, diagnósticas y evolutivas.

Resultados

De los 87 pacientes registrados el 17,3% presentaron criterios de inflamación de origen desconocido. Los diagnósticos fueron: enfermedades inflamatorias no infecciosas en 19 pacientes (21,8%), infecciones en 15 (17,2%), miscelánea en 14 (16,1%), enfermedades malignas en 13 (15%) y sin diagnóstico en 26 (29,9%). Se identificó algún indicio con potencial diagnóstico (IPD) en el 17,6% de los casos. Los pacientes sin diagnóstico se caracterizaron por un menor número de IPD totales (5,9 ± 3,3 vs. 8,7 ± 3,4; p = 0,000), menos signos clínicos (0,4 ± 0,6 vs. 0,9 ± 0,8; p = 0,011), menor número de pruebas en el estudio previo (2,7 ± 2,1 vs. 4,6 ± 2; p = 0,000), un menor intervalo diagnóstico (14,6 ± 7,7 días vs. 21,4 ± 9,5 días; p = 0,029) y una menor alteración de la velocidad de sedimentación globular (52,3 ± 41,3 mm/h vs. 89,8 ± 42,7 mm/h; p = 0,000), hemoglobina (12,9 ± 1,7 g/dl vs. 11,7±1,6 g/dl; p = 0,003) y albúmina (36,9 ± 6,4 g/l vs. 33,2 ± 7,2 g/l; p = 0,025). La tomografía por emisión de positrones con 18F-fluorodesoxiglucosa combinada con tomografía computarizada resultó de utilidad en el 37% de los casos. La mortalidad fue del 6,8%.

Conclusiones

La definición de FOD con criterio de estudio cualitativo incorpora un protocolo diagnóstico que aporta evidentes beneficios en términos de coste-eficacia.

Palabras clave:
Fiebre de origen desconocido clásica
Inflamación de origen desconocido
Definición con criterio de estudio cualitativo
18F-Fluorodesoxiglucosa combinada con tomografía computarizada

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