ABSTRACT
We report a 35-year-old HIV-positive male affected by lepromatous leprosy which, to our knowledge, is the first case of its kind in Spain. The relationship between the two conditions is discussed.
Subject(s)
HIV Infections/complications , Leprosy, Lepromatous/complications , Adult , Drug Therapy, Combination , Humans , Leprostatic Agents/therapeutic use , Leprosy, Lepromatous/drug therapy , Male , SpainABSTRACT
A group of 52 patients deemed to be cured of Hansen's disease were examined in order to determine the appearance or aggravation of bone lesions after cure. A study was made of X-rays performed both at the moment these patients were considered to be cured and a minimum of 2 years later. During the elapsing interval, new lesions had appeared in 8 patients, and existing lesions had worsened in 12 patients. Factors associated with the progression of lesions were: impaired sensitivity, physical activity and appearance of plantar ulcers. The authors feel that leprosy patients, even when considered to be bacteriologically cured, should undergo regular checkups. Factors which might aggravate bone lesions should be borne in mind.
Subject(s)
Bone Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Bone Diseases/microbiology , Leprosy/complications , Aftercare , Disease Progression , Exercise , Female , Foot Ulcer/microbiology , Humans , Leprosy/drug therapy , Male , Radiography , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Sensation Disorders/microbiology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of bone islands in leprosy patients. DESIGN: X-rays of feet and hands of patients with Hansen's disease (leprosy) were reviewed retrospectively. A second group of related age- and sex-matched patients who did not have Hansen's disease was used for control purposes. Controls had undergone hand and foot X-rays during diagnosis of other pathologies. The patients with Hansen's disease were compared with the control groups, and were also analyzed as subgroups with different types of leprosy. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. PATIENTS: Ninety patients with Hansen's disease were randomly selected for this study. Patients who had had ulcers on hands or feet were excluded from the study. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Bone islands were demonstrated in 20 patients with Hansen's disease; no bone islands were observed in the controls. This was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Bone islands were only seen in patients with lepromatous leprosy and borderline types but were not demonstrated in patients with tuberculoid leprosy. There was also a statistically significant relationship for a disease duration of 15 years or more. The cause of this raised incidence of enostosis in leprosy patients is not clear, but there may be a genetic predisposition in patients with leprosy, or it may be a side effect of leprosy, especially the lepromatous form.
Subject(s)
Bone Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Leprosy/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Aged , Bone Diseases/pathology , Bone and Bones/diagnostic imaging , Bone and Bones/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Leprosy/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , RadiographyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients with leprosy have enthesopathy at the calcaneus of plantar fascia. METHODS: In a radiographic study of over 3 years, we investigated the presence and location of enthesophytes in patients with leprosy compared to healthy age and sex matched controls with no evidence of bone or joint disease. RESULTS: Calcaneus enthesopathy occurred significantly more frequently in patients with leprosy than in controls, but no difference in the location of enthesophytes was found between the 2 groups. Calcaneus spurs were detected more frequently in lepromatous patients than in tuberculoid patients. CONCLUSION: Enthesitis is a manifestation of leprosy and may be more common in lepromatous than in tuberculoid patients.
