01380nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653001100058653002300069653001200092653003900104100001500143700001500158700001400173700001400187700001400201245003700215300001700252490000600269520086100275022001401136       2007                            d  c2007 May 0910aHumans10aLeprostatic Agents10aleprosy10aPeripheral Nervous System Diseases1 aCoeytaux A1 aTruffert A1 aMueller Y1 aAntille C1 aJackson Y00a[Leprosy, a neurologic disease].  a1178, 1180-40 v33 a<p>Leprosy is a treatable chronic infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, not highly transmittable that affects mainly the skin and peripheral nerves. Often neglected because it is rare in western countries, it may be encountered in patients coming back from endemic areas. Diagnostic criteria include underpigmented patches with loss of sensation, thickened peripheral nerves and acid-fast bacilli on skin smears or biopsy material. The variation of the cellular immune response determines the different forms of the disease (tuberculoid to lepromatous) and the neurological impairment. A precise diagnosis is mandatory to adjust the treatment. Among the neurological complications the leprosy reactions are the most important because they may result in increased nerve damage and compromised recovery if the specific treatment is delayed.</p>  a1660-9379