Bilateral symmetrical facial swelling owing to tuberculous gummas

Correlation between Serum Level of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 and Postoperative Recurrence of Spinal Tuberculosis in the Chinese Han Population

Objective

To correlate serum level of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) with postoperative recurrence of spinal tuberculosis in the Chinese Han population.

Methods

Patients of Han nationality with newly diagnosed spinal tuberculosis were consecutively included in this study. At different time points postoperatively, serum level of MCP-1 was determined using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Recurrence of spinal tuberculosis after surgery and during the follow-up period was recorded. The correlation between serum MCP-1 level and recurrence of spinal tuberculosis was analyzed.

Results

A total of 169 patients with spinal tuberculosis were included in the study and followed up for an average of2.2±1.3 years (range, 1–5 years). Of these patients, 11 had postoperative recurrence of spinal tuberculosis. The patients’ serum level of MCP-1 increased significantly after postoperative recurrence of spinal tuberculosis. Once the symptoms of recurrence were cured, the serum level of MCP-1 decreased significantly and it did not differ from patients without disease recurrence.

Conclusion

Postoperative recurrence of spinal tuberculosis is likely to increase the serum level of MCP-1.

Granulomatous disorders

Almost all granulomatous skin disorders can cause red lesions on the face. Such disorders may include many bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections, noninfectious inflammatory disorders, foreign body reactions, and even neoplasms. Clinically, they usually present with papules, plaques, nodules, and/or abscesses, which may ulcerate. It may be helpful in their differential diagnosis to define certain clinical patterns, such as multiple and discrete papules, necrotic or umbilicated papules or nodules, annular plaques, vegetative plaques or tumors, verrucous plaques or tumors, abscesses and/or sinuses, and lymphocutaneous pattern. Some disorders, such as sarcoidosis, can cause a wide variety of lesions. We accept that cutaneous leishmaniasis is also among such great imitators.