INTRODUCTION: Neuropathy due to leprosy is the most frequent cause of peripheral nervous system disorders due to an infective agent, one of the commonest aetiologies of peripheral neuropathy, and also one of the few peripheral neuropathies which is curable. Hansen's disease, initially and predominantly involves the skin, so it is not usually seen by a neurologist; a neurologist sees cases which are difficult to diagnose and often after the condition has been ruled out by other doctors from other medical specialties.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of La Habana, Cuba, 18 nerve biopsies were studied (during its history), that had been diagnosed as leprous neuropathy. We reviewed the clinical histories of all the patients admitted to this centre. The sample was characterized by: age, sex, neurological clinical picture, nerves most affected, skin lesions, electrophysiological studies and a description of the anatomopathological findings.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Most patients were male and all (100%) were adults of 'working age' (19-65 years). The most frequent neuropathic pattern was multiple mono-neuropathy (78%) and the quality, purely sensitive or mixed was predominantly sensitive (100%). The nerves most affected were the ulnar (10 patients) and median (6 patients). The most frequent skin lesions were anesthetic maculae. Anatomo-pathological study showed inflammatory infiltration in all patients and the bacillus was absent in only one case.
BT - Revista de neurologia C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10714283?dopt=Abstract DA - 1999 Feb 1-15 IS - 3 J2 - Rev Neurol LA - spa N2 -INTRODUCTION: Neuropathy due to leprosy is the most frequent cause of peripheral nervous system disorders due to an infective agent, one of the commonest aetiologies of peripheral neuropathy, and also one of the few peripheral neuropathies which is curable. Hansen's disease, initially and predominantly involves the skin, so it is not usually seen by a neurologist; a neurologist sees cases which are difficult to diagnose and often after the condition has been ruled out by other doctors from other medical specialties.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of La Habana, Cuba, 18 nerve biopsies were studied (during its history), that had been diagnosed as leprous neuropathy. We reviewed the clinical histories of all the patients admitted to this centre. The sample was characterized by: age, sex, neurological clinical picture, nerves most affected, skin lesions, electrophysiological studies and a description of the anatomopathological findings.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Most patients were male and all (100%) were adults of 'working age' (19-65 years). The most frequent neuropathic pattern was multiple mono-neuropathy (78%) and the quality, purely sensitive or mixed was predominantly sensitive (100%). The nerves most affected were the ulnar (10 patients) and median (6 patients). The most frequent skin lesions were anesthetic maculae. Anatomo-pathological study showed inflammatory infiltration in all patients and the bacillus was absent in only one case.
PY - 1999 SP - 232 EP - 6 T2 - Revista de neurologia TI - [Neuropathy of leprosy: characteristics of cases in 1962-1995]. VL - 28 SN - 0210-0010 ER -