@article{100343,
  keywords = {Peripheral nerves, epidemiologic monitoring, Mycobacterium leprae},
  author = {Sabino EFP and Fernandes Santos D and Eulálio Antunes D and Garcia LP and de Souza DDOB and Bernardes Goulart IM},
  title = {Asymptomatic leprosy contacts present asymmetrical skin temperature in hands by infrared thermography},
  abstract = {<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to identify possible dysautonomia in asymptomatic leprosy contacts through the assessment of asymmetric temperature between the hands using Infrared Thermography (IR).</p>

<p><strong>Methods: </strong>We recruited 144 subjects divided in three groups: 23 healthy subjects, 66 seropositive and 55 seronegative leprosy contacts by anti-phenolic glycolipid&nbsp;I (anti-PGL1) serology. Skin temperature was measured by a FLIR<sup>®</sup>&nbsp;T420 IR camera at ten regions of interest (ROIs) in each hand, at a controlled room temperature.</p>

<p><strong>Results:</strong> Skin temperature of both hands was reduced ( p&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;0.05) on all ROIs in seropositive household contacts and in the three ROIs of distal phalanges in seronegative contacts ( p&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;0.05) compared with healthy subjects. The presence of 2 or more ROIs with temperature asymmetry was observed in 81.8% (54/66) of seropositive and 60.0% (33/55) in seronegative contacts.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> IR thermography may detect temperature asymmetry in hands of leprosy contacts indicating peripheral autonomic dysfunction related to early neural impairment in these individuals.</p>
},
  year = {2024},
  journal = {Leprosy Review},
  volume = {95},
  pages = {1-10},
  publisher = {Lepra},
  issn = {2162-8807},
  url = {https://leprosyreview.org/article/95/2/20-23071},
  doi = {10.47276/lr.95.2.2023071},
  language = {ENG},
}