Introduction. The study aimed to compare the etiologic spectrum of diseases causing fever of unknown origin (FUO) and methods for definitive diagnosis in a tertiary care hospital in the Republic of North Macedonia during two different time periods. Patients and methods. There were analysed retrospectively the causes for FUO and final diagnostic approaches in 185 patients with classic FUO that were treated at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Skopje during two time periods. Seventy nine patients were treated during 1991 to 1995 and 106 patients during 2011 to 2015. Results. When comparing these two periods, infections were present in 46.8% and 29.2% (p = 0.014), non-infective inflammatory disorders in 22.8% and 25.5% (p = 0.674), neoplasms in 10.1% and 13.2% (p = 0.522), miscellaneous in 8.9% and 12.3% (p = 0.461) and undiagnosed cases in 11.4% and 19.8% (p = 0.124), respectively. The most common causes for FUO during the first period were abscesses (8.9%), tuberculosis and systemic lupus erythematosus (7.6% each), whereas in the second period the commonest causes were adult onset Still disease and solid organ neoplasm (7.6% each), polymyalgia rheumatica, abscesses and visceral leishmaniasis (5.7% each). The newer imaging techniques and clinical course evaluation had superior diagnostic significance during the second period. Conclusion. A changing pattern of diseases causing FUO during the examined periods was evident. Infections continue to be the most common cause but with decreasing incidence when compared to 20 years ago. Even nowadays clinical evaluation and follow-up still remain the vital diagnostic tools in determining the etiology of FUO.

Brucella thyroiditis represents an extremely rare focal form of brucellosis. In this case report we describe a 55 years old male, diagnosed with brucellosis and peripheral arthritis with subsequent development of acute thyroiditis. The symptoms duration consistent with brucellosis started two weeks before establishing the diagnosis. Only a day after diagnosis and initiation of antibrucellar treatment, acute non-suppurative thyroiditis suddenly manifested. Thyroiditis was diagnosed with clinical inspection and confirmed by ultrasound investigation. With the appropriate antibrucellar treatment, complete cure of thyroid affection was reached in ten days and the patient remained well during the follow-up period of two and a half years. In conclusion, in brucellosis endemic regions brucellosis should be included in the diagnostic consideration in patients with acute non-suppurative thyroiditis. Early recognition and adequate treatment of brucella thyroiditis results in favorable outcome.

Background: The quantification of HBsAg provides different and complementary information that helps in determination of the different phases of chronic hepatitis B viral infection, evaluation and follow-up of liver disease progression as well as in treatment individualization. Aim: To evaluate the clinical significance of quantitative HBsAg (qHBsAg) in patients with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis (CHB) and its correlation with the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), quantitative HBV DNA and liver fibrosis. Subjects and Methods: The study included 53 treatment naïve patients with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B. All patients underwent complete laboratory and serology testing, quantification of HBV DNA and HBs antigen. The liver stiffness was measured with elastography. Patients' demographic characteristics, viral and biochemical markers were recorded at one point of time.Results: Correlation analysis between the qHBsAg and ALT showed an significant, positive correlation between the parameters for R=0.42 and p<0.05; there was statistically non-significant positive correlation for R=0.25 and p>0.05 between qHBsAg and HBV DNA. There was a positive correlation between qHBsAg and liver fibrosis for R=0.08 and p>0.05. The serum levels of HBsAg had greater impact on the serum levels of ALT compared to that of HBV DNA for R=0.15 and p>0.05. Conclusion: Patients with higher ALT values and higher liver fibrosis score have higher qHBsAg; qHBsAg can reflect the serum HBV DNA levels.