01077nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653001100065653001200076653000900088653001500097653001300112653003000125100001000155700001900165700001200184245004300196300000900239490000600248520056700254022001400821       2002                            d  c2002 Jul10aAdult10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aPrednisone10aRifampin10aSeverity of Illness Index1 aJih M1 aKimyai-Asadi A1 aLevis W00aReversal reaction to Hansen's disease.  a70-10 v13 a<p>A 25-year-old man with a history of mid-borderline (BB) Hansen's disease developing a reversal reaction after starting dapsone and rifampin therapy is presented. His clinical features included erythematous, edematous plaques and peripheral neuropathy. Reversal reactions are caused immunologically by enhanced cell-mediated (Th-1) immunity to Mycobacterium leprae, resulting in inflammation of infected tissues, such as skin and nerves. Acute neuritis can lead to permanent nerve damage and necessitate prompt treatment with prednisone and/or clofazamine.</p>  a1545-9616