Neurologic Complications of Leprosy: A Case Series

Leprosy, caused by the Mycobacterium leprae complex, manifests as a chronic infection. Its hallmark presentation involves the neurocutaneous syndrome, characterized by peripheral nerve involvement and dermatologic lesions. Neurological complications significantly contribute to disability in leprosy patients. Peripheral neuropathy may manifest acutely or chronically, in either axonal or demyelinating forms, and can present as mononeuropathy, mononeuropathy multiplex, or polyneuropathy. The diverse clinical presentations emphasize the importance of considering leprosy in the differential diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, enabling appropriate investigative approaches. Skin and nerve biopsies, slit skin smears, and nerve conduction studies serve as crucial diagnostic tools for identifying peripheral nerve involvement in leprosy. In this paper, we present three cases of leprosy with peripheral nerve involvement, discussing their clinical spectrum, diagnostic approach, and management.