Gait analysis of leprosy patients with foot drop using principal component analysis.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve injury caused by leprosy can lead to foot drop, resulting in an altered gait pattern that has not been previously described using 3D gait analysis. METHODS: Gait kinematics and dynamics were analyzed in 12 patients with unilateral foot drop caused by leprosy and in 15 healthy controls. Biomechanical data from patients' affected and unaffected limbs were compared with controls using inferential statistics and a standard distance, based on principal components analysis (PCA). FINDINGS: Patients walked slower than controls (0.8 ± 0.2 vs. 1.1 ± 0.2 m/s, p = 0.003), with a reduced stance and increased swing percentage. The affected limb increased (p < 0.05) plantar flexion at the initial contact (-16.8o ± 8.3), terminal stance (-29.1o ± 11.5), and swing (-12.4o ± 6.2) in the affected limb compared to unaffected (-6.6o ± 10.3; -14.6o ± 11.6; 2.4o ± 7.6) and controls (-5.4o ± 2.5; -18.8o ± 5.8; -1.4o ± 3.9). Increased pelvic tilt and knee adduction/abduction range, with lower hip adduction, were observed. The second peak of ground reaction force (98.6 ± 5.2 %BW), ankle torque (0.99 ± 0.33 Nm/kg), and net ankle work in stance (-0.03 ± 5.4 J/Kg) decreased in the affected limb compared to controls (104.1 ± 5.5 %BW; 1.24 ± 0.4 Nm/kg; -4.58 ± 5.19 J/kg; p < 0.05). There were decreasing multivariate standard distances in the affected limb compared with the unaffected and controls. PCA loading factors highlighted the major differences between groups. INTERPRETATION: Leprosy patients with foot drop presented altered gait patterns in affected and unaffected limbs. There were remarkable differences in ankle kinematics and dynamics. Rehabilitation devices, such as ankle foot orthosis or tendon transfer surgeries to increase ankle dorsiflexion, could benefit these patients and reduce deviations from normal gait.

CORRELATION BETWEEN QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE CLINICAL RESULTS OF PATIENTS WITH LEPROSY WITH DROP FOOT AFTER TENDON TRANSFER.

Objective: To evaluate the functional results of surgically correcting drop foot in patients with leprosy and compare their SALSA, Social Participation, and AOFAS score. Methods: Overall, 22 patients were subjected to posterior tibial tendon transfer via the subcutaneous route to the foot dorsum with an average follow-up of 56 months (min 12, max 70). In our sample, 15 of the enrolled patients were men and seven, women, aged between 20 and 73 years old who were operated on from January 2014 to December 2017. The Pearson's correlation test (r) was used to measure the correlation among those scales. A p < 0.05 was considered significant between the pre- and pos-operative AOFAS scale scores. Results: Pre-operative average AOFAS score was 59.6 (min 35, max 74) and 77.2 postoperative (min 36, max 97) (p < 0.0001), postoperative Salsa and Social Participation scale, 30.6 and 22.5, respectively. Statistical analysis suggests a strong positive correlation between AOFAS and Salsa scales (r = -0.83) and AOFAS and social participation (r = -0.78). Average dorsiflexion was 5.4 degrees. Conclusion: The surgical correction of drop foot positively affects the quality of life and social participation of patients with leprosy. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective Study.

Objetivo: Avaliar o resultado funcional da cirurgia de correção de pé caído em pacientes hansênicos e comparar as escalas Screening of Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness (SALSA) e de Participação social pós-operatórias com o escore da American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS). Métodos: Avaliamos 22 pacientes submetidos à transposição do tibial posterior para o dorso do pé com mínimo de seguimento de 12 e máximo de 131 meses operados entre janeiro de 2013 e dezembro de 2017. Utilizamos o coeficiente de Pearson (r) para medir o grau de correlação entre as escalas funcionais e consideramos o valor de p < 0,05 na análise dos valores pré e pós-operatórios da AOFAS. Resultados: A média da AOFAS foi de 59,6 no pré-op (mín 35, máx 74) e 77,2 no pós-op (mín 36, máx 97) (p < 0,0001) e das escalas SALSA e participação social de 30,6 e 22,5 no pós-operatório. A análise estatística demonstrou correlação positiva forte (r = −0,83) com as escalas SALSA e de participação social (r = −0,78) quando comparadas ao AOFAS. O grau de dorsiflexão atingido foi de 5,4 graus em média. Linha de pesquisa: Evidência clínica e organizacional, modelos assistenciais, educacionais e avaliação de qualidade em APS - Pós-graduação em Clínica Médica da Faculdade de Medicina da UFRJ. Conclusão: A melhora da função através da correção cirúrgica do pé caído possui correlação direta na melhora da qualidade de vida dos pacientes portadores de hanseníase. Nível de Evidência III, Estudo Retrospectivo.

Correlation between quality of life and the clinical results of patients with leprosy with drop foot after tendon transfer / Avaliação de pacientes com hanseníase pós transposição tendínea para pé caído e sua correlação com a qualidade de vida

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the functional results of surgically correcting drop foot in patients with leprosy and compare their SALSA, Social Participation, and AOFAS score. Methods: Overall, 22 patients were subjected to posterior tibial tendon transfer via the subcutaneous route to the foot dorsum with an average follow-up of 56 months (min 12, max 70). In our sample, 15 of the enrolled patients were men and seven, women, aged between 20 and 73 years old who were operated on from January 2014 to December 2017. The Pearson's correlation test (r) was used to measure the correlation among those scales. A p < 0.05 was considered significant between the pre- and pos-operative AOFAS scale scores. Results: Pre-operative average AOFAS score was 59.6 (min 35, max 74) and 77.2 postoperative (min 36, max 97) (p < 0.0001), postoperative Salsa and Social Participation scale, 30.6 and 22.5, respectively. Statistical analysis suggests a strong positive correlation between AOFAS and Salsa scales (r = −0.83) and AOFAS and social participation (r = −0.78). Average dorsiflexion was 5.4 degrees. Conclusion: The surgical correction of drop foot positively affects the quality of life and social participation of patients with leprosy. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective Study.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o resultado funcional da cirurgia de correção de pé caído em pacientes hansênicos e comparar as escalas Screening of Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness (SALSA) e de Participação social pós-operatórias com o escore da American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS). Métodos: Avaliamos 22 pacientes submetidos à transposição do tibial posterior para o dorso do pé com mínimo de seguimento de 12 e máximo de 131 meses operados entre janeiro de 2013 e dezembro de 2017. Utilizamos o coeficiente de Pearson (r) para medir o grau de correlação entre as escalas funcionais e consideramos o valor de p < 0,05 na análise dos valores pré e pós-operatórios da AOFAS. Resultados: A média da AOFAS foi de 59,6 no pré-op (mín 35, máx 74) e 77,2 no pós-op (mín 36, máx 97) (p < 0,0001) e das escalas SALSA e participação social de 30,6 e 22,5 no pós-operatório. A análise estatística demonstrou correlação positiva forte (r = −0,83) com as escalas SALSA e de participação social (r = −0,78) quando comparadas ao AOFAS. O grau de dorsiflexão atingido foi de 5,4 graus em média. Linha de pesquisa: Evidência clínica e organizacional, modelos assistenciais, educacionais e avaliação de qualidade em APS - Pós-graduação em Clínica Médica da Faculdade de Medicina da UFRJ. Conclusão: A melhora da função através da correção cirúrgica do pé caído possui correlação direta na melhora da qualidade de vida dos pacientes portadores de hanseníase. Nível de Evidência III, Estudo Retrospectivo.

Lepromatous Reaction Type II: Clinical and Laboratory Aspects.

In Type II lepromatous reaction, there is exacerbation of humoral immunity, classified as Gell & Coombs Type III hypersensitivity reaction. It is more common in lepromatous borderline (LB) and lepromatous lepromatous (LL) patients. Our objective was to study the clinical and laboratorial expressions of lepromatous Type II reactions, establishing concordances between them, and for this the medical records of leprosy patients observed at the Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (HUCFF/UFRJ) were reviewed. There were a total of 358 leprosy cases over a period of 12 years. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of 133 patients with Type II reaction were collected. Among the 133 patients, 19 were classified as borderline borderline (BB), 15 (11.3%) as LB, and 97 (72.9%) as LL. Mitsuda intradermal reaction was negative in all the 49 patients who underwent this test. Histopathologic study confirmed the diagnosis. Lepromatous patients (LP) presented positive bacilloscopy more frequently (73.91% of 68 patients) than borderline patients (BP) (26.9% of 24 patients). Among BP, 44% presented erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), which was seen in 71% of LP. Erythema multiforme (EM) occurred in 32% of BP and 13% of LP. Lucio phenomenon (LPh) was observed in 8 of 34 BP (23.6%), and 15 of 97 LP (15.4%). The understanding of the laboratorial and clinical presentations of reactional episodes are relevant to the development of preventive and therapeutic strategies, in order to avoid potential complications and comorbidities that cause disability, paralysis, deformities, and stigma of leprosy.

The Use of Assistive Technology to Promote Care of the Self and Social Inclusion in Patients with Sequels of Leprosy.

BACKGROUND: This study is about the contribution of occupational therapy inside a rehabilitation group, and we focus on the autonomy of patients with disabilities due to leprosy. There are few studies on the use of assistive technology by leprosy patients; to our knowledge, none of them aim to have a subjective approach of care. Our purpose was to analyze the repercussions of assistive technology on autonomy of care of the self in patients with sequels of leprosy. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive exploratory study with a semi-structured interview and a field observation as a research method was conducted between November 2014 and February 2015 at a University Hospital in Rio de Janeiro. FINDINGS: Eight patients from the service of Occupational Therapy were interviewed, and 44 hours of observation were performed. Interviews followed a semi-structured script and a field journal was used to take notes. Analysis was conducted by the hermeneutic approach. Costs were obtained after a global cost analysis of the fixed and variable expenses and direct and indirect costs to the manufactured products with an amount of 100 dollars. Results were grouped according to the following categories: contribution of the adapted devices for the care of the self and feelings and sensations provoked by the use of self-help devices. The reports revealed feelings, perceptions and meaningful contents about the social, familiar and individual dimensions, also the stigma coupled with leprosy. However, forms of re-signification were elaborated. CONCLUSIONS: Assistive technology empowers the subject to perform care of the self and promotes social inclusion.

The Use of Ozone in High Frequency Device to Treat Hand Ulcers in Leprosy: a Case Study.

Leprosy leads to chronic granulomatous inflammation in skin and peripheral nerves that can lead to sensory, motor and autonomic impairments. Autonomic dysfunctions may result in dryness and cracking of the skin. In this study, we present the use of ozone provided by a high-frequency device to treat hand ulcers (wounds) in an 80-year-old man who was diagnosed as multibacillary in 2007. In the first visit, the patient was evaluated and received verbal and written instructions about self-care. Treatment consisted of five sessions, once per week. The ozone provided by a high-frequency device seemed to be useful in the treatment of ulcers, thus, contributing to the healing process. Research that investigates the use of high frequencies in the treatment of ulcers associated or not with other interventions (self-care strategies, protective clothing, adapted tools and footwear adaptation) is strongly recommended.

Primary Motor Cortex Representation of Handgrip Muscles in Patients with Leprosy.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is an endemic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that predominantly attacks the skin and peripheral nerves, leading to progressive impairment of motor, sensory and autonomic function. Little is known about how this peripheral neuropathy affects corticospinal excitability of handgrip muscles. Our purpose was to explore the motor cortex organization after progressive peripheral nerve injury and upper-limb dysfunction induced by leprosy using noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). METHODS: In a cross-sectional study design, we mapped bilaterally in the primary motor cortex (M1) the representations of the hand flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), as well as of the intrinsic hand muscles abductor pollicis brevis (APB), first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM). All participants underwent clinical assessment, handgrip dynamometry and motor and sensory nerve conduction exams 30 days before mapping. Wilcoxon signed rank and Mann-Whitney tests were performed with an alpha-value of p<0.05. FINDINGS: Dynamometry performance of the patients' most affected hand (MAH), was worse than that of the less affected hand (LAH) and of healthy controls participants (p = 0.031), confirming handgrip impairment. Motor threshold (MT) of the FDS muscle was higher in both hemispheres in patients as compared to controls, and lower in the hemisphere contralateral to the MAH when compared to that of the LAH. Moreover, motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes collected in the FDS of the MAH were higher in comparison to those of controls. Strikingly, MEPs in the intrinsic hand muscle FDI had lower amplitudes in the hemisphere contralateral to MAH as compared to those of the LAH and the control group. Taken together, these results are suggestive of a more robust representation of an extrinsic hand flexor and impaired intrinsic hand muscle function in the hemisphere contralateral to the MAH due to leprosy. CONCLUSION: Decreased sensory-motor function induced by leprosy affects handgrip muscle representation in M1.

Psychological distress and quality of life in leprosy patients with neuropathic pain.

Leprosy is widely known because of progressive damage to the peripheral nerves. In spite of multidrug therapy, some patients develop chronic neuropathic pain after bacteriological cure. Chronic pain is associated with psychological distress and is also an important predictor of poor quality of life. The aim of this study is to assess psychological distress in leprosy patients with chronic neuropathic pain, and its repercussions on their quality of life. The sample of this cross-sectional study comprised patients with chronic neuropathic pain after multidrug therapy. Neuropathic pain was confirmed by clinical examination and by the Douleur neuropathique en 4 questions questionnaire. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogic scale (VAS) ruler. The psychological health of the participants was measured using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, and the WHOQOL-bref was used to assess quality of life. The mean pain intensity reported by participants on the VAS was 7.1 cm (SD = 2.9). No differences in pain intensity with respect to gender were observed. Psychological distress was present in 76.2% of participants, being higher in those with Grade 2 of disability. Patients with psychological distress had the lowest mean scores in all domains of the WHOQOL-bref. The lowest mean scores according to domain were physical (9.9; SD = 3.3), followed by environment (11.9; SD = 3.0), psychological (13.5; SD = 2.6) and social relations (14.0; SD = 3.7). In conclusion, our study identified the presence of psychological distress in most of the participants. Patients with chronic neuropathic pain who were also found to have high psychological distress levels had higher pain intensity and a poorer quality of life.

Physical disability and social participation in patients affected by leprosy after discontinuation of multidrug therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the social participation frequency and the physical disability of patients who were discharged after the multidrug therapy (MDT/WHO) and factors associated with these variables. METHOD: A cross-sectional and analytical study, examining associations, which took place Nova Iguaçu/Brazil. A random sample of patients treated with multidrug therapy from 1997 to 2006 was selected. The rationale for sample size was determined by the estimated proportion of physical disability in the amount of 23%, with an acceptable sampling error rate of 5%; significance level was established as 5% among the 1080 patients finally a total sample of 225 patients. The evaluations were performed from January 2010 to December 2011 and Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected from the applications completed in the national notifiable diseases information system (SINAN). RESULTS: In the period of interest, 2179 cases were diagnosed with leprosy; 1080 met the criteria for inclusion. Of these, 225 were randomly selected patients who had mean age 56.12 (±17.34 years), 55.6% were women, 39.9% went to high school and 28.9% were Caucasians. A total of 55.3% (125) showed multibacillary form, with a predominant dimorphous leprosy in 40.4%. Physical disability was present in 60.9% and social restrictions in 24.9% of patients. The variable physical disability was associated with the therapeutic regimen multibacillary and social participation. CONCLUSION: We observed a high frequency of disability and social restriction after long period after the start of MDT/WHO suggesting the late diagnosis of leprosy or inadequate follow-up after discharge. This study highlights the importance of systematic monitoring of these patients with their own criteria which could be held at the Family Health Strategy.

Quality of life and its domains in leprosy patients after neurolysis: a study using WHOQOL-BREF.

Surgical nerve decompression in leprosy is indicated to prevent or treat nerve damage, and to improve sensory motor function and quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to describe QoL of leprosy patients after surgical nerve decompression. Participants who underwent neurolysis in the last 5 years were recruited. The assessment consisted of collecting demographic and clinical information, QoL and its domain scores. Descriptive statistical analysis of demographic and clinical data was presented. Included 33 patients (43 +/- 11.0 years) who had neurolysis with a total of 61 nerves operated. The results of WHOQOL-bref showed that overall QoL mean was 11.2 (+/- 3.63) and domains scored as follow: physical (11.0 +/- 3.56), environment (11.47 +/- 2.11), psychological (13.29 +/- 2.79) and social relations (15.03 +/- 3.66). Measures of QoL should become part of the standard battery of tools used to assess health and well-being and it may contribute to identifying patients' needs in rehabilitation.

Avaliação da limitação das atividades diárias e qualidade de vida de pacientes com hanseníase submetidos à cirurgia de neurólise para tratamento das neurites / Evaluation of the limitations in daily-life activities and quality of life in leprosy patients submitted to surgical neurolysis to treat neuritis / Evaluación de las limitaciones de las actividades diarias y calidad de vida de pacientes leprosos submetidos a cirugia de neurólisis para el tratamiento de las neuritis

A neurólise é indicada para reduzir o ­sofrimento neural e impedir a instalação de sequelas e incapacidades em pacientes com hanseníase. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o grau de limitação das atividades e a qualidade de vida de pacientes com hanseníase submetidos a neurólise para tratamento das neurites. Participaram do estudo os pacientes submetidos à neurólise no período de 1998 a 2011. Foram coletadas informações sociodemográficas e clínicas, limitações das atividades (SALSA) e a qualidade de vida (WHOQOL-bref). As análises estatísticas incluíram a frequência, as medidas de tendência central e dispersão, os testes de Mann-Whitney e Kruskall-Wallis e o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman adotando-se p<0,05. A amostra foi composta por 36 pacientes com média de idade de 44,0 anos e 3 anos de pós-operatório. Seis pacientes apresentaram grau 0 de incapacidade; 18, grau 1 e 12, grau 2. A principal diferença da escala SALSA ocorreu entre o grau 0 (média 31,8) e o grau 1 (média 42,56). Os valores obtidos na análise do WHOQOL-bref incluíram os domínios físico (média 11,10), psicológico (média 13,41), relações sociais (média 15,15), meio ambiente (média 11,63). As facetas do WHOQOL-bref mais comprometidas foram: capacidade para o trabalho; sentimentos ­negativos (psicológico); atividade sexual (relações sociais); recursos financeiros (meio ambiente). Apesar da realização da neurólise, a maior parte dos integrantes apresentou limitações nas atividades, sendo maior naqueles com incapacidades físicas. A maior insatisfação na qualidade de vida foi no domínio físico, principalmente no que se refere à dor e à necessidade de cuidados de saúde...

Neurolysis is indicated to reduce neural suffering and to prevent sequelae and disabilities in leprosy patients. The aim of this study was to determine the ­degree of limitation of daily activities and quality of life in leprosy patients submitted to neurolysis for neuritis treatment. The study included patients who underwent neurolysis from 1998 to 2011. We collected demographic and clinical information, data about activity limitations (Screening of Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness [SALSA]) and quality of life (WHO Quality of Life - Short Form-26 [WHOQOL-BREF]). Statistical analyses included frequency, central tendency and dispersion measures, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis' tests, and Spearman's correlation coefficient adopting p<0.05. The sample consisted of 36 patients with a mean age of 44.0 years and three years of postoperative period. Six patients had disability grade 0, 18 patients had grade 1, and 12 patients had grade 2. The main difference between the SALSA scale occurred between grades 0 (mean 31.8) and 1 (mean 42.56). The results obtained in the analysis of the WHOQOL-BREF included the following domains: physical facets (mean 11.10), psychological facets (mean 13.41), social relationships (mean 15.15), and environmental facets (mean 11.63). The most affected facets of the WHOQOL-BREF were as follows: work ability (physical), negative feelings (psychological), sexual ­activity (social relationships), and financial resources (environmental). Despite the neurolysis, most subjects showed activity limitations, which were found to be higher in people with physical disabilities. The major dissatisfaction observed in the quality of life was in the physical domain, especially with regard to pain and the need for medical care...

La neurólisis es indicada para reducir el sufrimiento neural e impedir la instalación de secuelas e incapacidades en pacientes con lepra. El objetivo de este estudio fue verificar el grado de limitación de las actividades de la vida diaria y la calidad de vida de pacientes con lepra sometidos a neurólisis para el tratamiento de las neuritas. Participaron del estudio los pacientes sometidos a neurólisis en el período de 1998 a 2011. Fueron recolectadas informaciones sociodemográficas y clínicas, limitaciones de las actividades (SALSA) y la calidad de vida (WHOQOL-bref). Los análisis estadísticos incluirán la frecuencia, las medidas de tendencia central y dispersión, los tests de Mann-Whitney, Kruskall-Wallis y los coeficientes de correlación de Spearman adoptando p<0,05. La muestra fue compuesta por 36 pacientes con edad media de 44,0 años y 3 años de post-operatorio. Seis pacientes presentan grado 0 de incapacidad, 18 grado 1 y 12 grado 2. La principal diferencia en la escala SALSA ocurrió entre el grado 0 (media=31,8) y el grado 1 (media=42,56). Los valores obtenidos en el análisis de WHOQOL-bref incluyen los dominios físico (media 11,10); psicológico (media 13,41); relaciones sociales (media 15,15); medio ambiente (media 11,63). Las facetas del WHOQOL-bref más comprometidas fueron la capacidad para el trabajo; sentimientos negativos (psicológico); actividad sexual (relaciones sociales); recursos financieros (medio ambiente). A pesar de la realización de la neurólisis, la mayor parte de los integrantes presentaron limitaciones en las actividades, siendo mayor en aquellos con incapacidades físicas. La mayor insatisfacción en la calidad de vida fue en el dominio físico, principalmente en los que se refiere al dolor y la necesidad de cuidados de salud...

Chronic pain in leprosy: new aspects to be considered.

Leprosy is still considered to be endemic in several developing countries, such as India and Brazil. Infection with Mycobacterium leprae leads to chronic granulomatous inflammation in skin and peripheral nerves that can lead to sensory, motor and autonomic impairments. Since the disease causes severe sensory loss, little attention has been given to pain in leprosy. However, chronic pain in leprosy is being increasingly recognized as an important late complication of leprosy. This article discusses the assessment of pain in leprosy and suggests factors that can contribute to the chronicity. We also consider pain as a multiple system output, bringing the possibility of new treatment options for chronic pain in leprosy.

A method used to access the functional outcome of tibial posterior tendon transfer for foot drop in leprosy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to access the postoperative functional results of posterior tibial tendon transfer for foot drop as a consequence of nerve palsy in leprosy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirteen patients (9 males and 4 females) with ages ranging from 9 to 69 years were submitted to posterior tibial tendon transfer by the circumtibial route to correct foot drop in leprosy. The length of postoperative follow-up ranged from 1 to 5 years. The Stanmore system was used as a method for evaluating the functional results of postoperative posterior tibial tendon transfer. This system is made up of 7 different categories and the total score is 100. RESULTS: According to the Stanmore system, the results were poor in 1 patient (7.6%), moderate in 2 feet (15.3%), good in 5 feet (38.4%), and excellent in 5 feet (38.4%). All the patients were satisfied with the final outcome. CONCLUSION: The posterior tibial tendon transfer for foot drop in leprosy was efficient in restoring normal function of the foot and gait without changing foot posture. In the absence of a standardized method for assessing the results of posterior tibial tendon transfer, the Stanmore system seems to be a good tool for an objective evaluation.

Single lesion leprosy pacients multicentric cohort treated with single dose drug therapy: findings on three-year follow-up and public health perspective in Brazil

Single skin lesion, paucibacillary (SSL-PB) leprosy is considered and early disease manifesation. This study the clinical outcome of a cohort of 259 newly diagnosed SSL-PB treated with one dose of rifampicin, ofloxacin, minocycline (ROM) and followed-up for three-years. Patients were recruited from the North, Central West and Southeast regions in Brazil (1997-2001). The result expected with ROM therapy was disappearance or the reduction of lesion size. Manifestation that required additional intervention were considered as poor clinical outcome: type-1 reaction (T1R) with or without neuritis alone, increase in lesion size and shift from paucibacillary to multibacillary. The incidence of poor clinical outcome was calculated by person-month and with the Kaplan-Meier methods. 61.8% of the participants were females, mean age 32.2, and 67,2% had borderline tuberculoid (BT) or tuberculoid forms. T1R was the predominant event; shift from paucibacillary to multibacillaru was rare. 92.0% of the volunteers shown no events during the first year, the same occurring to 80.6% of them after 3 years of clinical monitoring. The probability of remaining event-free was highest among those 40 years old or younger. Poor outcome predominated among BT patients. Extended monitoring of SSL-PB leprosy cases under minimal therapy provided valuable case management information for reference centers.

Coorte multicêntrica de pacientes com hanseníase tratada com terapiade dose única: resultados de três anos de seguimento e perspectiva emsáude pública no Brasil / SINGLE LESION LEPROSY PACIENTS MULTICENTRIC COHORT TREATED WITH SINGLE DOSE DRUG THERAPY: FINDINGS ON THREE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP AND PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE IN BRAZIL

Single skin lesion, paucibacillary (SSL-PB) leprosy is considered an early diseasemanifestation. This study evaluated the clinical outcome of a cohort of 259 newlydiagnosed SSL-PB treated with one dose of rifampicin, ofloxacin, minocycline (ROM)and followed-up for three-years. Patients were recruited from the North, Central Westand Southeast regions in Brazil (1997-2001). The result expected with ROM therapywas disappearance or the reduction of lesion size. Manifestations that required additional intervention were considered as poor clinical outcome: type-1 reaction (T1R) with orwithout neuritis, neuritis alone, increase in lesion size and shift from paucibacillary tomultibacillary. The incidence of poor clinical outcome was calculated by personmonthand with the Kaplan-Meier methods. 61.8% of the participants were females,mean age 32.2, and 67.2% had borderline tuberculoid (BT) or tuberculoid forms. T1Rwas the predominant event; shift from paucibacillary to multibacillary was rare. 92.0%of the volunteers shown no events during the first year, the same occurring to 80.6%of them after 3 years of clinical monitoring. The probability of remaining event-freewas highest among those 40 years old or younger. Poor outcome predominated amongBT patients. Extended monitoring of SSL-PB leprosy cases under minimal therapyprovided valuable case management information for reference centers.

Lesão única paucibacilar (SSL-PB) é considerada manifestação clínica inicial dahanseníase. Este estudo avaliou resultado clínico de coorte de 259 pacientes SSL-PBrecém-diagnosticados, tratados com esquema de dose única Rifampicina, Ofloxacina,Minociclina (ROM) e acompanhados por 3 anos (1997-2001) nas regiões Norte,Centro-Oeste e Sudeste. O resultado esperado do tratamento ROM compreendedesaparecimento ou diminuição da lesão. O desfecho foi definido como qualquerevento clínico com indicação de terapia adicional: reação tipo 1 (T1R) com ou semneurite, neurite, aumento de tamanho de lesão e mudança de paucibacilar paramultibacilar. Estas manifestações foram consideradas eventos clínicos desfavoráveis,calculados por densidade de incidência (pessoa-tempo) e por Kaplan-Meier. 61,8%dos participantes eram mulheres (32,2 média idade), 67,2% borderline-tuberculoide(BT) e tuberculoide. T1R foi o desfecho predominante; mudança de paucibacilar paramultibacilar foi rara. 92,0% não apresentaram eventos desfavoráveis no primeiro anoe 80,6% ao final de três anos de monitoramento clínico. Participantes com idade d?40 anos tiveram maior probabilidade de permanecerem sem evento e evolução clínicadesfavorável predominou entre pacientes BT. Monitoramento prolongado de hanseníaselesão-única PB tratados com esquema mínimo forneceu dados importantes sobremanejo clínico para os centros de referência.

Single lesion leprosy pacients multicentric cohort treated with single dose drug therapy: findings on three year follow up and public health perspective in Brazil

Single skin lesion, paucibacillary (SSL PB) leprosy is considered an early disease manifestation. This study evaluated the clinical outcome of a cohort of 259 newly diagnosed SSL PB treated with one dose of rifampicin, ofloxacin, minocycline (ROM) and followed up three years. Patients were recruited from the North, Central West and Southeast regions in Brazil (1997-2001). The result expected with ROM therapy was disappearance or the reduction of lesion size. Manifestations that required additional intervention were considered as poor clinical outcome: type 1 reaction (T1R) with or without neuritis, neuritis alone, increase in lesion size and shift from paucibacillary to multibacillary. The incidence of poor clinical outcome was calculated by person month and with the Kaplan Meier methods. 61,8 percent of the participants were females, mean age 32.2 and 67,2 percent had borderline tuberculoid (BT) or tuberculoid forms. TIR was the predominant event; shift from paucibacillary to multibacillary was rare. 92 percent of the volunteers shown no events during the first year, the same occurring to 80,6 percent of them after 3 years of clinical monitoring. The probability of remaining event free was highest among those 40 years old or younger. Poor outcome predominated among BT patients. Extended monitoring of SSL PB leprosy cases under minimal therapy provided valuable case management information for reference centers.

Mycobacterium leprae DNA associated with type 1 reactions in single lesion paucibacillary leprosy treated with single dose rifampin, ofloxacin, and minocycline.

Leprosy affects skin and peripheral nerves, and acute inflammatory type 1 reactions (reversal reaction) can cause neurologic impairment and disabilities. Single skin lesion paucibacillary leprosy volunteers (N = 135) recruited in three Brazilian endemic regions, treated with single-dose rifampin, ofloxacin, and minocycline (ROM), were monitored for 3 years. Poor outcome was defined as type 1 reactions with or without neuritis. IgM anti-phenolic glycolipid I, histopathology, Mitsuda test, and Mycobacterium leprae DNA polymerase chain reaction (ML-PCR) were performed at baseline. chi(2) test, Kaplan-Meir curves, and Cox proportional hazards were applied. The majority of volunteers were adults with a mean age of 30.5 +/- 15.4 years; 44.4% were ML-PCR positive. During follow-up, 14.8% of the patients had a poor clinical outcome, classified as a type 1 reaction. Older age (> or = 40 years), ML-PCR positivity, and lesion size > 5 cm were associated with increased risk. In multivariate analysis, age (> or = 40 years) and ML-PCR positivity remained baseline predictors of type 1 reaction among monolesion leprosy patients.

Pacientes com hanseniase paucibacilar lesao unica tratados com terapia de dose unica ROM: avaliacao de progressao da doenca em coorte multicentrica (1997 - 2001) / ?

Este projeto de investigacao teve por objetivo definir o perfil clinico, epidemiologico, histopatologico e imunologico ao diagnostico e tambem avaliar os fatores prognosticos associados com a evolucao clinica dos pacientes de hanseniase PB/lesao unica tratados com ROM/dose unica em condicoes do campo. Trata-se de estudo de coorte multicentrica com seguimento de tres anos, conduzido em diferentes regioes do Brasil: Norte, Centro-Oeste e Sudeste. Os casos recem-detectados de hanseniase PB/lesao unica (n=259) foram recrutados e tratados de outubro de 1997 a dezembro de 1998. Na linha de base, a media de idade foi 32,4 (dp=16,0). 61,8% dos pacientes eram mulheres e 33,6% dos pacientes apresentaram histomorfologia BT, 29,7% I e33,6% TT. 74,4% tiveram Mitsuda positivo e 17,7% anti-PGL1 positivo. A avaliação clinica dos pacientes recrutados foi mensal no primeiro semestre e de 6 em 6 meses de outubro de 1997 a dezembro de 2001. O completo desaparecimento ou reducao do tamanho da lesao foi categorizado como evolucao favoravel. Evolucao desfavoravel foi definida como aumento no numero das lesoes, episodios de reacao reversa e/ou neurites perifericas isoladas, alem de mudanca de forma clinica para MB. A densidade de incidencia (DI) de eventos desfavoraveis foi calculada por pessoas-mes. Para calcular a probalidade cumulativa de intervalos livres de eventos foi usado de Metodo de Kaplan-Meier. Em 03 anos de seguimento, 88,1% dos pacientes tratados apresentaram completo desaparecimento da lesao. A incidencia de evolucao desfavoravel foi 17,8% (DI= 6,9/1000 pessoas-mes). A reacao reversa (RR) foi o evento desfavoravel predominante, principalmente entre pacientes BT. Houve baixa taxa de incidencia de progressao de PB para MB (7/10 000 pessoas-mes). Para a coorte como um todo, a probabilidade de permanecer livre de eventos a partir do diagnostico foi 92% (+/- 1,7%) no primeiro ano e 80,6% (+/- 2,55) no terceiro ano, estimado pelo metodo de Kaplan-Meier. A probalidade de permanecer livre de eventos foi mais alta entre pacientes com menos de 40 anos (92,4% no primeiro ano e 85,7% no terceiro ano de acompanhamento). Os pacientes BT tiveram mais probabilidade cumulativa de apresentar evolucao desfavoravel durante os intervalos seguimento, quanto comparados com os pacientes I e TT (p=0,03). Em conclusao, nossos resultados evidenriaram a predominancia de evolucao favoravel e baixa densidade de incidencia de progressao para formas MB nos

Sindrome de hipersensibilidade a dapsona: revisao sistematica dos criterios diagnosticos / Dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome: a systematic review of diagnostic criteria

A importancia mundial da farmacovigilancia vem aumentando, mesmo nos paises subdesenvolvidos. Neste contexto, a sindrome de hipersensibilidade a dapsona (SHD), um efeito colateral raro e potencialmente grave, deve ser considerada, sem, entretanto, comprometer a seguranca da droga e sua ampla utilizacao. Objetivando padronizar os criterios diagnosticos da sindrome, realizou-se uma revisao sistematica da literatura analisando trabalhos, publicados de quinze paises endemicos entre 1956 e 2001. Cento e oito casos foram reportados neste periodo, destes 96,2% apos 1980, com 13,3% de obitos. Neste grupo, 59% apresentaram a sindrome completa - febre, rash, linfadenopatia e hepatite, enquanto 41% expressaram forma incompleta. A taxa de mortalidade do grupo que preenche os criterios de SHD completa foi 9,6% e nao houve associacao estatistica com injuria hepatica. Todavia ressalta-se pouca qualidade dos dados coletados, o que reforca a necessidade de relatos mais precisos em futuras publicacoes.

Distinct histopathological patterns in single lesion leprosy patients treated with single dose therapy (ROM) in the Brazilian Multicentric study

This paper aims to describe the histomorphologic features of skin biopsies of single lesion leprosy patients recruited at outpatient clinics in four Brazilian states in the Northeast (Amazonas and Rondonia), Southeast (Rio de Janeiro) and Center-West (Goiás) between October 1997 and December 1998. Patients clinically diagnosed as single skin lesion paucibacillary (SSL-PB) leprosy had a standard 4-mm punch biopsy taken from the lesion before rifampin, ofloxacin, minocycline (ROM) therapy. The features of the cellular inflammatory infiltrates, the presence of nerve involvement and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) were used to categorize SSL-PB biopsies into different histopathological groups. Two-hundred-seventy-eight (93.0%) out of 299 patients had a skin biopsy available. Seven single lesion patients were diagnosed as BL or LL leprosy types (MB) by the histopathological exams and 12 cases were excluded due to other skin diseases. Therefore, 259 patients had skin lesions with histomorphological features compatible with PB leprosy categorized as follows: 33.6% (N = 87) of the biopsies represented well-circumscribed epithelioid cell granuloma (Group 1); 21.6% (N = 56) less-circumscribed epithelioid cell granuloma (Group 2); 12.0% (N = 31) were described as mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate permeated with epithelioid cells (Group 3), and 29.7% (N = 77) had perivascular/periadnexal mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate (Group 4). Minimal/no morphological alteration in the skin was detected in only 8 (3.1%) SSL-PB patients categorized as Group 5, who were considered to have leprosy by clinical parameters. SSL-PB leprosy patients recruited in a multicentric study presented histomorphology readings comprising the whole PB leprosy spectrum but also a few MB cases. These results indicate heterogeneity among SSL-PB patients, with a predominance of well-circumscribed and less-circumscribed epithelioid cell granulomas (Groups 1 and 2) in the sites studied and the heterogeneity of local cellular immune response.