Volume 24, Number 7—July 2018
Research
Virus RNA Load in Patients with Tick-Borne Encephalitis, Slovenia
Ana Saksida, Nina Jakopin, Mateja Jelovšek, Nataša Knap, Luka Fajs, Lara Lusa, Stanka Lotrič-Furlan, Petra Bogovič, Maja Arnež, Franc Strle, and Tatjana Avšič-Županc
Table
Characteristics of 80 patients with TBEV RNA in serum obtained during initial phase of TBE, Slovenia*
| Characteristic | Value | 95% CI† |
|---|---|---|
| Sex | ||
| F | 43 (53.8) | 42.2–64.9 |
| M |
37 (46.2) |
35.0–57.8 |
| Median age, y (IQR) | 48.5 (31–60.8) | 42.0–50.5 |
| F | 52 (30–63) | 41.1–53.2 |
| M |
47 (33–59) |
39.1– 51.4 |
| History of tick bite |
68 (85.0) |
75.3–92.0 |
| Initial (first) phase of TBE | ||
| Leukopenia‡ | 71 (88.8) | 79.7–94.7 |
| Thrombocytopenia§ | 52 (65.0) | 53.5–75.3 |
| Duration of first phase (days), median (IQR) |
6 (5–8) |
5.9–6.7 |
| Asymptomatic interval | ||
| Duration, d, median (IQR) |
10 (7–13) |
9.5–11.7 |
| Second (meningoencephalitic) phase of TBE | ||
| CSF findings | ||
| Cell count × 106/L, median (IQR) | 57 (25–104.8) | 64.6–122.6 |
| Protein concentration, mg/L, median (IQR) | 0.54 (0.40–0.74) | 0.54–0.68 |
| Serum antibodies to TBEV¶ | ||
| IgM | 80 (100.0) | 95.5–100.0 |
| IgG |
71 (88.7) |
79.7–94.7 |
| Severity of acute illness | ||
| Quantitative assessment | ||
| Mild | 28 (35.0) | 24.7–46.5 |
| Moderate | 45 (56.3) | 44.7–67.3 |
| Severe | 7 (8.7) | 3.6–17.2 |
| Clinical classification | ||
| Mild | 29 (36.2) | 25.8–47.8 |
| Moderate | 45 (56.3) | 44.7–67.3 |
| Severe | 6 (7.5) | 2.8–15.6 |
*Values are no. (%) patients unless otherwise noted. CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; IQR, interquartile range; TBE, tick-borne encephalitis; TBEV, TBE virus.
†For the population percentage or the population mean.
‡Blood leukocyte count <4 × 109/L.
§Blood platelet count <140 × 109/L.
¶Findings obtained during second (meningoencephalitic) phase of illness at initial examination; all IgG-negative patients later seroconverted.
Page created: June 18, 2018
Page updated: June 18, 2018
Page reviewed: June 18, 2018
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