Early nerve damage in leprosy: an electrophysiological study of ulnar and median nerves in patients with and without clinical neural deficits.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve trunk involvement in leprosy is very common. However, by the time it becomes clinically manifest, the damage is quite advanced. If the preclinical nerve damage can be detected early, the deformities and disabilities can be prevented to a large extent.

AIMS: To assess the electrophysiological functions of the ulnar and median nerve trunks in cases of clinically manifest leprosy with and without manifest nerve damage at different durations of nerve damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electrophysiological functions of ulnar and median nerves were studied in leprosy patients, both normal and at different stages of disease and damage. PB cases, having disease for six months or less, without neurological symptoms and clinically normal appearing nerve.

STATISTICAL METHODS: Mean was taken of different values. The changes in values of different parameters were expressed as percentage change with reference to the control values (increase or decrease).

RESULTS: Reduced nerve conduction velocities and changes in latency and amplitude were observed. Changes in sensory nerve conduction were more pronounced. Sensory latencies and amplitude changes were more severe than motor latencies and amplitudes in cases with manifest muscle palsies. Changes in MB cases were less marked.

CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed to identify parameters likely to be helpful in the diagnosis of early nerve damage.