Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis: clinical markers in presumptive diagnosis.

UNLABELLED: Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (ML) can lead to serious sequela; however, early diagnosis can prevent complications. AIM: To evaluate clinical markers for the early diagnosis of ML. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series study of 21 cases of ML, which were evaluated through clinical interview, nasal endoscopy, biopsy and the Montenegro test. RESULTS: A skin scar and previous diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) were reported in 8(38%) patients, and 13(62%) of them denied having had previous CL and had no scar. Nasal/oral symptom onset until the ML diagnosis varied from 5 months to 20 years, mean value of 6 years. In the Montenegro test, the average size of the papule was 14.5 mm, which did not correlate with disease duration (p=0.87). The nose was the most often involved site and the extension of the injured mucosa did not correlate with disease duration. The parasite was found in 2 (9.52%) biopsy specimens. CONCLUSIONS: ML diagnosis was late. Finding the parasite in the mucosa, cutaneous scar and/or previous diagnosis of CL were not clinical markers for ML. ML diagnosis must be based on the Montenegro test, chronic nasal and/or oral discharge and histological findings ruling out other granulomatous diseases.

Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis: clinical markers in presumptive diagnosis / Leishmaniose mucosa: marcadores clínicos no diagnóstico presuntivo

Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (ML) can lead to serious sequela; however, early diagnosis can prevent complications. AIM: To evaluate clinical markers for the early diagnosis of ML. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series study of 21 cases of ML, which were evaluated through clinical interview, nasal endoscopy, biopsy and the Montenegro test. RESULTS: A skin scar and previous diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) were reported in 8(38 percent) patients, and 13(62 percent) of them denied having had previous CL and had no scar. Nasal/oral symptom onset until the ML diagnosis varied from 5 months to 20 years, mean value of 6 years. In the Montenegro test, the average size of the papule was 14.5 mm, which did not correlate with disease duration (p=0.87). The nose was the most often involved site and the extension of the injured mucosa did not correlate with disease duration. The parasite was found in 2 (9.52 percent) biopsy specimens. CONCLUSIONS: ML diagnosis was late. Finding the parasite in the mucosa, cutaneous scar and/or previous diagnosis of CL were not clinical markers for ML. ML diagnosis must be based on the Montenegro test, chronic nasal and/or oral discharge and histological findings ruling out other granulomatous diseases.

A leishmaniose cutâneo-mucosa (LM) pode deixar sequelas graves. O diagnóstico precoce evita complicações. OBJETIVO: Avaliar marcadores clínicos para o diagnóstico precoce da LM. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo de série de 21 casos avaliados com diagnóstico confirmado de LM por meio de entrevista, endoscopia nasal, biópsia e teste cutâneo de Montenegro. RESULTADOS: A cicatriz cutânea ou história de leishmaniose cutânea foram observadas em 8 (38 por cento) pacientes e 13(62 por cento) negaram terem tido forma cutânea e não tinham cicatriz. O início dos sintomas nasais/orais até a definição do diagnóstico variou de 5 meses a 20 anos, média de 6 anos. No teste de Montenegro, o tamanho médio da pápula foi de 14,5mm e não se correlacionou com a duração da doença (p=0,87). O comprometimento nasal predominou e a extensão da lesão não se correlacionou com a duração da doença. Parasitas foram encontrados em 2(9,52 por cento) espécimes de lesões biopsiadas. CONCLUSÃO: O diagnóstico da LM foi tardio. O encontro do parasito na mucosa, a cicatriz típica e leishmaniose cutânea prévia não foram marcadores para o diagnóstico de LM. O diagnóstico de LM pode se basear no teste de Montenegro alterado associado a sintomas nasais e/ou orais e exclusão de outras doenças granulomatosas.