02084nas a2200253 4500000000100000008004100001260001000042653001200052653002100064653001500085653001500100653002600115653002900141100001900170700002100189700001400210700001500224245011800239856026000357300000900617490000700626520118300633022001401816 2025 d bLepra10aLeprosy10aHansen's disease10aNeuropathy10aAssessment10aInfrared thermography10aautonomic nerve function1 aWim Brandsma J1 aKnulst-Verlaan C1 aKnulst AJ1 aMaharjan S00aInfrared thermography: a scoping review of its possible role in the diagnosis and follow-up of leprosy neuropathy uhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arjan-Knulst/publication/395550739_Infrared_thermography_a_scoping_review_of_its_possible_role_in_the_diagnosis_and_follow-up_of_leprosy_neuropathy/links/68d51da4d221a404b2a290a3/Infrared-thermography-a-scoping-review- a1-100 v963 a

Neuropathy is a well-known complication of leprosy. Nerve palpation and assessment of motor and sensory nerves are routinely performed at diagnosis in leprosy, which helps establish the diagnosis and, during treatment, monitor the status of somatic nerve function. Assessment of peripheral autonomic nerve function is not commonly practiced for diagnosing leprosy or for diagnosing and monitoring neuropathy. Early impairments in autonomic function, however, may help to establish or confirm a diagnosis and predict the development of clinical leprosy and neuropathy. Several studies, including infrared thermography and electro-neurophysiological studies, have shown the presence of subclinical nerve impairments that may indicate a diagnosis of leprosy or lead to the development of neuropathy. Sudomotor and vasomotor impairments, in the presence of loss of protective sensation, also increase the risk for ulceration, often requiring chronic care. This article provides a brief discussion of the importance and assessment of peripheral autonomic nerve function in leprosy. Its focus is to review articles that have used infrared thermography to assess this function

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