02074nas a2200253   4500000000100000008004100001260001000042653003600052653001200088653001400100653001400114100001500128700001400143700001400157700001600171700001400187700001700201245015500218856005200373300000700425490000700432520136700439022001401806       2025                            d  bLepra10aHigh resolution ultrasonography10aleprosy10adiagnosis10adetection1 aTjiaman MP1 aZaidan MZ1 aAusath ZF1 aOctaviana F1 aKarima AP1 aMenaldi SLSW00aThe role of high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) in detecting peripheral neuropathy in leprosy patients and household contacts: a systematic review  uhttps://leprosyreview.org/article/96/1/20-24132  a130 v963 a<p><strong>Objectives</strong></p>

<p>To explore the utility of high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) in leprosy by assessing changes in peripheral nerves.</p>

<p><strong>Methods</strong></p>

<p>This study follows the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA).&nbsp;Relevant studies up to 1 July 2024 were systematically searched using three databases, and the quality of the included studies was further assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.</p>

<p><strong>Results</strong></p>

<p>The results consistently indicated that leprosy patients exhibited significant nerve thickening across various nerves, particularly the ulnar, median, and peroneal nerves with high sensitivity and specificity. Notably, HRUS also demonstrated its ability to detect subclinical nerve involvement in leprosy patients’ household contacts (HHC), suggesting its potential utility in early screening efforts.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>

<p>HRUS emerges as a promising diagnostic tool for leprosy, offering enhanced objectivity and superior sensitivity and specificity compared to current diagnostic tools by detecting nerve involvement. This method is effective not only in diagnosing symptomatic patients but also in identifying nerve abnormalities in HHC and individuals without visible skin manifestations.</p>
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