Early diagnosis of neuropathy in leprosy : comparing diagnostic tests in a large prospective study (the INFIR cohort study)
Document type: article
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Abstract:
Leprosy is the most frequent treatable disease of the peripheral nerves. Yet, every year, thousands of patients develop nerve damage as a result of leprosy. If this is detected and treated early, the prognosis is good. We conducted the largest prospective study on this topic to date to determine which test would detect nerve damage earliest. One hundred and eighty-eight leprosy patients were selected from centres in North India and followed for 2 years after diagnosis. Nerve function was tested at each visit using a battery of nerve function tests. A large proportion of the patients had or developed subclinical nerve damage that was not detected with the standard clinical tests (monofilaments and voluntary muscle testing). Sensory nerve conduction was the most frequently and earliest affected test, closely followed by the warm temperature perception test. They are promising tests for improving early detection of nerve damage, as they often became abnormal 12 weeks or more before the monofilament test became abnormal. Changes measured with the monofilament and voluntary muscle tests mirrored changes in more advanced electronic measures, confirming their validity as screening tests. These findings open the door to future improvement of the prognosis of nerve damage in leprosy.
Authors:
Brakel, W.H. van
,
Nicholl, P.G.
,
Wilder-Smith, E.P.
,
Das, L.
,
Barkataki, P.
,
Lockwood, D.N.J.
Country:
India
Category:
Research
Serial number:
4
Volume:
2
Journal:
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Keywords:
health
,
disease prevention and control
Language:
eng
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
PAGE:
12
Year:
2008
Region:
Asia
,
South Asia
Right:
© 2008 van Brakel et al. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.
Subject:
Health and Nutrition
Title:
Early diagnosis of neuropathy in leprosy : comparing diagnostic tests in a large prospective study (the INFIR cohort study)