Ultrasound elastography assessment of the median nerve in leprosy patients.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to compare median nerve elasticity between leprosy patients (LP) and healthy volunteers (HV) using ultrasound elastography (UE).

METHODS: Two radiologists independently measured the strain ratio of the median nerve/flexor digitorum superficialis muscle (MN/FDSM) of 18 LP and 18 HV using real-time freehand UE. Statistical analysis included intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and Mann-Whitney test.

RESULTS: The MN/FDSM strain ratio of the LP and HV were 2.66±1.30 and 3.52±0.93, respectively (P<0.05). We observed a significantly lower MN/FDSM strain ratio in LP with reactions (types 1 and 2 cutaneous reactions associated or not with neuritis) (2.30±0.91) compared to LP without reactions (3.60±1.70). We found no significant differences between HV and LP without reactions. The intra- and inter-observer ICCs were 0.50 (95%CI: 0.11-0.72) and 0.34 (95%CI: 0.28-0.52), respectively.

DISCUSSION: MN/FDSM strain ratios were significantly lower in LP with reactions. UE may be useful for nerve elasticity evaluation in leprosy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.