01682nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260002400042653001400066653002500080100001400105700001900119700001800138700001300156700001300169700001500182700001300197245006500210856007800275300001200353490000700365520105400372022001401426       2007                            d  bFapUNIFESP (SciELO)10aNeurology10aNeurology (clinical)1 aJardim MR1 aIllarramendi X1 aNascimento OJ1 aNery JAC1 aSales AM1 aSampaio EP1 aSarno EN00aPure neural leprosy: steroids prevent neuropathy progression  uhttps://www.scielo.br/j/anp/a/3Fydmx5sqWmghNwxxykjXxh/?format=pdf&lang=en  a969-9730 v653 a<p>Multidrug therapy (MDT), with rifampicin, dapsone, and clofazimine, treats leprosy infection but is insufficient in arresting or preventing the nerve damage that causes impairments and disabilities. This case-series study evaluates the benefits of the combined use of steroids and MDT in preventing nerve damage in patients with pure neural leprosy (PNL). In addition to MDT, 24 patients (88% male aged 20-79 years, median=41) received a daily morning dose of 60 mg prednisone (PDN) that was gradually reduced by 10 mg during each of the following 5 months. PNL was clinically diagnosed and confirmed by nerve histopathology or PCR. A low prevalence (8.3%) of reaction was observed after release from treatment. However, most of the clinical parameters showed significant improvement; and a reduction of nerve conduction block was observed in 42% of the patients. The administration of full-dose PDN improved the clinical and electrophysiological condition of the PNL patients, contributing to the prevention of further neurological damage.</p>
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