Leprosy is one of the six diseases that the WHO considers as the major threat in developing countries. Damage to nerves can occur before, during, and after treatment and can result in disabilities and long-term disfigurement, which is associated with stigma. Considered exotic and rare in European countries, it is important for neurologists to be able to make the diagnosis of leprosy early in order to rapidly alleviate patient suffering and prevent and reverse nerve damage. Leprosy must be considered in the differential diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, even in the absence of skin lesions and especially when present in a patient from an endemic country. Immune response and mechanisms involved in nerve damage are not clearly understood. There is no predictive test for the extent of nerve damage and no good evidence on the best treatment.
BT - Revue neurologique C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23107882?dopt=Abstract DA - 2012 Dec DO - 10.1016/j.neurol.2012.05.017 IS - 12 J2 - Rev. Neurol. (Paris) LA - fre N2 -Leprosy is one of the six diseases that the WHO considers as the major threat in developing countries. Damage to nerves can occur before, during, and after treatment and can result in disabilities and long-term disfigurement, which is associated with stigma. Considered exotic and rare in European countries, it is important for neurologists to be able to make the diagnosis of leprosy early in order to rapidly alleviate patient suffering and prevent and reverse nerve damage. Leprosy must be considered in the differential diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, even in the absence of skin lesions and especially when present in a patient from an endemic country. Immune response and mechanisms involved in nerve damage are not clearly understood. There is no predictive test for the extent of nerve damage and no good evidence on the best treatment.
PY - 2012 SP - 967 EP - 74 T2 - Revue neurologique TI - [Peripheral nerve damage in patients with leprosy]. TT - Neuropathies au cours de la lèpre VL - 168 SN - 0035-3787 ER -