02025nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653000900065653002800074653001100102653001100113653001200124653000900136653001600145653003200161653003900193653001300232653001000245653001600255100001400271700001400285700001400299245012900313300001000442490000700452050001600459520121000475022001401685       2005                            d  c2005 Dec10aAdult10aAged10aCross-Sectional Studies10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aNerve Compression Syndromes10aPeripheral Nervous System Diseases10aPressure10aTouch10aUlnar nerve1 aSeiler DK1 aWilton JP1 aDellon LA00aDetection of neuropathy due to Mycobacterium leprae using noninvasive neurosensory testing of susceptible peripheral nerves.  a633-70 v55  aSEILER 20053 a<p>The prevalence of disability in patients with Hansen disease is related to peripheral nerve dysfunction. This dysfunction, which is due to chronic nerve compression, is the result of invasion of the peripheral nerve by Mycobacteria leprae. This suggests that early identification of M. leprae would be aided by detection of early stages of peripheral nerve compression. Traditional evaluation of peripheral nerve function with monofilaments, electrodiagnostic testing, or by observing motor palsy or digital ulcers unfortunately identifies only late sequelae of peripheral nerve dysfunction. The cutaneous pressure threshold required to identify 1 from 2 static-touch stimuli was obtained with the Pressure-Specified Sensory Device in upper and lower extremities of 51 patients who completed multidrug therapy for Hansen disease. Abnormal peripheral nerve function was identified in each patient and in each of the 120 bilateral nerves that were evaluated. The degree of nerve dysfunction included the range from early to late stages of nerve compression, suggesting that this method of neurosensory testing offers the possibility for early detection of peripheral nerve problems in Hansen disease.</p>  a0148-7043