01738nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260003300042653001100075653001100086653001100097653001200108653000900120653001600129653003900145100001700184700001700201700001300218700002100231700001400252700001100266700001300277245007200290856004600362300001000408490000700418050002100425520096400446022001401410       2012                            d  c2012 JunbScieloaSao Paulo 10aBiopsy10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aPeripheral Nervous System Diseases1 aNascimento O1 aFreitas MR G1 aEscada T1 aMarques Junior W1 aCardoso F1 aPupe C1 aDuraes S00aLeprosy late-onset neuropathy: an uncommon presentation of leprosy.  uhttp://www.scielo.br/pdf/anp/v70n6/04.pdf  a404-60 v70  aNASCIMENTO 2012a3 a<p>Clinical and pathological findings in leprosy are determined by the natural host immune response to Mycobacterium leprae. We previously described cases of painful neuropathy (PN) with no concurrent cause apart from a past history of leprosy successfully treated. Four leprosy previously treated patients who developed a PN years after multidrug therapy (MDT) are reported. The mean patient age was 52.75 years (47-64). The mean time interval of the recent neuropathy from the previous MDT was 19 years (12-26). A painful multiplex neuritis or polyneuropathy were observed respectively in two cases. Electrophysiological studies disclosed a sensory axonal neuropathy in two cases. Microvasculitis with no bacilli was seen in nerve biopsy. Neuropathic symptoms were improved with prednisone. We consider these cases as being a leprosy late-onset neuropathy (LLON) form of presentation. A delayed immune reaction could explain the late appearance of LLON.</p>  a1678-4227