ABSTRACT
Immersion of a hand in water at 38-40 degrees C for half an hour was performed in two phases with a one year interval in 38 patients with Hansen's disease and 20 controls. In all 20 controls wrinkles were produced. However, 32 of the 38 patients failed to show wrinkles in the fingertips. In 12, who participated in both phases, results of the second test confirmed those of the first. This may be an indication of irreversible damage. Due to the small number of individuals tested, no conclusions may be drawn in reference to groups and types of the disease. Provided that these results can be confirmed in larger groups of patients, this method could prove to be a tool in the diagnosis of Hansen's disease. Since the test is very easy to perform, it would be of great value in areas far from specialized medical centers.
Subject(s)
Fingers , Immersion , Leprosy/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Female , Fingers/innervation , Hot Temperature , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sensory Receptor Cells/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Em uma experiencia, realizada em duas etapas com intervalo de um ano, manteve-se imersa uma das maos de 38 hansenianos e de 20 individuos, que formaram o grupo controle, em agua a temperatura de 38 a 40o.C, durante meia hora. Em todos os 20 componentes do grupo controle, observou-se a formacao de rugas nas pontas dos dedos.Contudo, em 32 dos 38 portadores de hanseniase, nao ocorreu a formacao de rugas. Em 12 destes pacientes, que participaram das duas fases, os resultados do segundo teste confirmaram os do primeiro, sugerindo danos irreversiveis. Porem, nao de pode obter nenhuma conclusao com relacao a grupos e tipos da doenca devido ao pequeno numero de individuos testados. Por outro lado, devido a sua facil aplicacao, esse metodo podera tornar-se em um meio de diagnostico de hanseniase
