Epidemiological profile of leprosy reactions in a referral center in Campinas (SP), Brazil, 2010-2015

Abstract: Leprosy patients can present reactions during the course of the disease. There are no official data on these reactions in Brazil. We aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics of patients with such reactions, analyzing information from patient records at a referral center in Campinas (SP), from 2010 to 2015.

A case series of pure neural leprosy in patients diagnosed in a specialized center for the control of Hansen's disease in Colombia / Serie de casos de lepra neural pura en pacientes diagnosticados en un centro especializado en el control de la enfermedad de Hansen en Colombia

Abstract Pure neural leprosy, defined as a peripheral neuropathy in which the patient has no skin lesions, is difficult to diagnose. Its verification by bacteriological index and histopathology is not possible in the majority of the patients. We describe four cases of pure neural leprosy diagnosed by clinical criteria. The clinical outcome of three of the patients after specific treatment was satisfactory, while the other one developed progressive neural damage despite the therapy. All patients were treated in a specialized center for the management and control of Hansen's disease in the municipality of Contratación, Santander, Colombia.

Resumen La lepra neural pura se presenta como una neuropatía periférica sin presencia de lesiones cutáneas. La verificación del diagnóstico mediante el índice bacilary la histopatología, no es posible en la mayoría de los pacientes. Se describen cuatro casos de lepra neural pura diagnosticados por clínica; la evolución de tres de los pacientes que recibieron tratamiento específico fue satisfactoria, en tanto que la otra paciente presentó deterioro progresivo a pesar de las medidas terapéuticas. Todos los pacientes fueron atendidos en un centro especializado en el manejo y control de la enfermedad de Hansen, ubicado en el municipio de Contratación, Santander, Colombia.

Leprosy in a University Hospital in Southern Brazil

AbstractBACKGROUND:Leprosy is an infectious disease that may lead to irreversible nerve damage, compromising patient's quality of life and leading to loss of working years.OBJECTIVES:To evaluate the epidemiological profile of patients followed at a University Hospital.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study, based on a review of medical records. We studied the clinical and epidemiological features of patients with leprosy monitored at the Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Paraná between January 2005 and January 2010.RESULTS:The mean age was 47.51, while 35.94% of patients were aged 41-60. The male:female rate was 1.8:1. The most prevalent occupations were: retired, students or rural workers. Patients came mainly from Curitiba or nearby areas, but there were also patients from the countryside. The mean diagnostic delay was 24.57 months. Multibacillary forms prevailed, with the lepromatous variety being the most common, closely followed by the borderline type. Neural enlargement was found in more than 50% of the patients and 48.44% of them developed reactional states. Hemolysis was the most commonly detected drug side effect. Initial functional evaluation was possible in 70% of patients, 55% of whom had disabilities upon diagnosis. The most prevalent associated disease was hypertension.CONCLUSIONS:This study showed an important diagnostic delay and a high rate of sequelae in this specific population. Brazil is one of the few remaining countries that has not yet eradicated leprosy and it is important to improve health policies in order to prevent sequelae and achieve eradication.

Follicular mucinosis: an important differential diagnosis of leprosy in an endemic area

Primary follicular mucinosis is a rare dermatosis characterized by the accumulation of mucin in the follicular epithelium and sebaceous glands. Clinically, it is characterized by the presence of papules or well-circumscribed and infiltrated plaques. In this paper, we report the case of a female patient, seven years old, evolving for three months with an asymptomatic, erythematous and infiltrated plaque located in the chin region. The research of thermal, pain and tactile sensitivity was inconclusive. Histological findings confirmed the diagnosis of follicular mucinosis. There was regression of the lesion with the use of medium potency topical corticosteroids for 20 days. The pathogenesis of follicular mucinosis remains unknown, being in some cases associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. In endemic areas of leprosy, isolated and infiltrated follicular mucinosis lesions should be further differentiated from leprosy.

Hanseníase tuberculóide em paciente com Aids / Tuberculoid leprosy in aids patient

Relata-se o caso de uma criança de oito anos, portadora de Aids, que desenvolveu hanseníase tuberculóide antes do início da terapia anti-retroviral. Apresentava lesões ulceradas nos membros, Mitsuda de 8,5mm, hipoestesia em perna esquerda, e o diagnóstico de hanseníase foi definido pela imuno-histoquímica antiproteína S-100, que mostrou fragmentos de ramos nervosos no interior dos granulomas. A incidência da hanseníase não aumentou com o advento da Aids, e não há modificações na apresentação clínica ou na resposta terapêutica nos casos de hanseníase associados à Aids. Também não se observou neste caso o desenvolvimento da reação tipo 1 como resultado da reconstituição imunológica devido ao tratamento anti-retroviral.

The authors present a 8 year-old child with AIDS who developed tuberculoid leprosy prior the beginning of the anti-retroviral treatment. The pacient presented ulcered lesions in arms and legs, the Mitsuda reaction was 8,5 mm, there was hypostesia of the left leg and the leprosy diagnosis was reached mainly supported by the anti-S100 protein immunohistochemistry staining that showed fragments of nerve branches inside granulomas. The incidence of leprosy has not increased because of AIDS. There havenÆt been changes in the clinical presentation and in the response to therapy in cases of leprosy associated with AIDS. We havenÆt also observed development of type 1 reaction in this patient resulting from restoring of the immune response after the anti-retroviral treatment.