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ABSTRACT While there are conflicting data concerning interleukin (IL)-17 levels in the serum of patients with leprosy compared with those in healthy controls, higher levels have been more evident in the tuberculoid clinical form of leprosy and type 1 reactions. This review aimed to highlight the role of Th17 cells and their cytokines in leprosy. Cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-23 induce Th17, while transforming growth factor beta and IL-10 inhibit Th17, indicating that the balance between Th17 and regulatory T cells is crucial for leprosy polarization. However, more comprehensive paired studies are required to better elucidate the role of Th17 cells in leprosy.
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Resumen: Introducción: la enfermedad de Hansen es una enfermedad infecciosa crónica, causada por Mycobacterium leprae, que afecta principalmente piel y nervios periféricos. Las reacciones leprosas son eventos agudos que se asocian a un aumento de la morbimortalidad de la enfermedad. Objetivo: presentar el caso clínico de un paciente con fenómeno de Lucio, a través del cual se llegó al diagnóstico de enfermedad de Hansen, y remarcar la importancia de tener presente esta enfermedad, poco frecuente en nuestro país, para su correcto diagnóstico. Discusión: el fenómeno de Lucio es un tipo de reacción leprosa mediada por inmunocomplejos. Se caracteriza clínicamente por máculas o placas eritematovioláceas, de aparición súbita, que evolucionan a úlceras necróticas y curan dejando cicatrices estrelladas atróficas. De no mediar tratamiento, puede ser fatal, debido a sobreinfección y sepsis. Este se basa en el tratamiento específico de la infección, asociado a prednisona y un correcto manejo de las heridas.
Summary: Introduction: Hansen disease is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Leprosy reactions are acute events associated to an increase in the morbimortality of the disease. Objective: the study aims to present the clinical case of patient with Lucio´s phenomenon, which allowed the diagnosis of Hansen disease, and to emphasize on the importance of having this disease in mind for an appropriate diagnosis, despite it being rather unusual in our country. Discussion: Lucio´s phenomenon is a kind of leprosy reaction mediated by immune complexes. Clinically, it is characterized by the sudden onset of macules or blue hemorrhagic plaques, with a rapid evolution to necrotic ulcers, and it heals leaving star-shaped atrophic scars. If it is not treated, it may be fatal due to superinfection and sepsis. Treatment is based on specific medication for the infection, associated to prednisone and the correct handling of injuries.
Resumo: Introdução: a hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa crônica causada pelo Mycobacterium leprae, que acomete principalmente pele e nervos periféricos. As reações hansênicas são eventos agudos que estão associados ao aumento da morbimortalidade da doença. Objetivo: apresentar o caso de um paciente com fenômeno de Lúcio, por meio do qual se chegou ao diagnóstico de hanseníase, e ressaltar a importância de se ter em mente esta doença, rara em nosso meio, para seu correto diagnóstico. Discussão: o fenômeno de Lúcio é um tipo de reação hansênica mediada por imunocomplexos. Caracteriza-se clinicamente por máculas ou placas eritêmato-violáceas de início súbito que evoluem para úlceras necróticas e cicatrizam, deixando cicatrizes estreladas atróficas. Sem tratamento pode ser fatal, devido a superinfecção e sepse; a terapia está baseada no tratamento específico da infecção, associado à prednisona e no manejo correto da ferida.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Leprosy, Lepromatous/complications , Leprosy/complicationsABSTRACT
Introduction: Leprosy reactions, the main cause of neural damage, can occur up to 7 years after starting multidrug therapy. We aimed to approach the prognostic factors that may influence the leprosy reactions over the follow-up time. Methods: Retrospective cohort study, encompassing 10 years of data collection, composed of 390 patients, divided into 201 affected by reactions and 189 reaction-free individuals. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory variables were approached as prognostic factors associated with leprosy reactions. The association among variables was analyzed by a binomial test and survival curves were compared by the Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional-hazards regression. Results: 51.5% (201/390) of patients were affected by leprosy reactions. These immunological events were associated with lepromatous leprosy (16.2%; 63/390; p < 0.0001) and multibacillary group (43%; 169/390; p < 0.0001). This study showed that survival curves for the prognostic factor anti-PGL-I, comparing positive and negative cases at diagnosis, differed in relation to the follow-up time (Log Rank: p = 0.0760; Breslow: p = 0.0090; Tarone-Ware: p = 0.0110). The median survival times (time at which 50% of patients were affected by leprosy reactions) were 5 and 9 months for those reactional cases with negative (26/51) and positive serology (75/150), respectively. The time-dependent covariates in the cox proportional-hazards regression showed anti-PGL-I as the main prognostic factor to predict leprosy reactions (hazard ratio=1.91; p = 0.0110) throughout the follow-up time. Conclusions: Finally, these findings demonstrated that anti-PGL-I serology at diagnosis is the most important prognostic factor for leprosy reactions after starting multidrug therapy, thus enabling prediction of this immunological event.
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Patients with leprosy may experience a chronic and severe type II leprosy reaction (ENL) erythema nodosum leprosum that may not respond to thalidomide and systemic immunosuppressants or may even cause serious adverse events. We here present four patients in whom anti-TNF-α therapy was used with successful results and compare our findings with other published cases. Four patients with chronic and severe ENL who did not respond to, at least, thalidomide and steroids (high doses) were followed up at two reference centers in Brazil. A thorough laboratory investigation was performed to exclude tuberculosis and other diseases before the start of immunobiological medication. Three patients were started on etanercept, and one patient was started on adalimumab. Of all patients, three developed severe adverse events resulting from the use of classical immunosuppressants for ENL (cataracts, deep vein thrombosis, diabetes, and osteoporosis). In all cases, a reduction in the number of ENL and, at least half of the immunosuppressant dose between 6 months and 2 years, were observed. Long-term follow-up of one patient revealed a dramatic reduction in hospital admissions due to ENL, from 12 instances in 1 year (before biologic therapy) to none (after biologic therapy), along with an improvement in condyloma acuminatum. In addition, no direct adverse events were observed with biologics. Treatment with anti-TNF-α therapy may be used as an alternative in patients with chronic and severe ENL who do not respond to traditional treatment (e.g., thalidomide, steroids, and other immunosuppressants). This treatment can help reduce the frequency of ENL, the immunosuppressive burden, and the number of hospital admissions.
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In leprosy patients, acute inflammatory episodes, known as erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), are responsible for high morbidity and tissue damage that occur during the course of Mycobacterium leprae infection. In a previous study, we showed evidence implicating DNA-sensing via TLR9 as an important inflammatory pathway in ENL. A likely important consequence of TLR9 pathway activation is the production of type I interferons (IFN-I) by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), also implicated in the pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated whether the IFN-I pathway is activated during ENL. Blood samples and skin lesions from multibacillary patients diagnosed with ENL were collected and the expression of genes of the IFN-I pathway and interferon-stimulated genes were compared with samples collected from non-reactional multibacillary (NR) patients. Whole blood RNAseq analysis suggested higher activation of the IFN-I pathway in ENL patients, confirmed by RT-qPCR. Likewise, significantly higher mRNA levels of IFN-I-related genes were detected in ENL skin biopsies when compared to NR patient lesions. During thalidomide administration, the drug of choice for ENL treatment, a decrease in the mRNA and protein levels of some of these genes both in the skin and blood was observed. Indeed, in vitro assays showed that thalidomide was able to block the secretion of IFN-I by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to M. leprae sonicate or CpG-A, a TLR9 ligand. Finally, the decreased frequencies of peripheral pDCs in ENL patients, along with the higher TLR9 expression in ENL pDCs and the enrichment of CD123+ cells in ENL skin lesions, suggest the involvement of these cells as IFN-I producers in this type of reaction. Taken together, our data point to the involvement of the pDC/type I IFN pathway in the pathogenesis of ENL, opening new avenues in identifying biomarkers for early diagnosis and new therapeutic targets for the better management of this reactional episode.
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INTRODUCTION: Leprosy reactions, classified as type 1 and type 2 reactions, are acute clinical conditions of exacerbation of localized or systemic inflammatory response inpatients with leprosy. No laboratory biomarker is available to predict the emergence of these reactions. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an accurate biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of various inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of the NLR in the diagnosis of leprosy reactions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NLR was calculated for all patients and a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were generated to identify the NLR cut-off point. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients with leprosy were included, 98 with leprosy reactions of which 56 (45.5%) had type 1 and 42 (34.1%) with type 2. Mean NLR was higher among patients with reactions than among those without. It was also statistically higher among patients with type 2 reactions than in those with type 1 reactions. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to identify the NLR cut-off point. The area under the ROC curve was 0.794 for diagnosis of any leprosy reaction and 0.796 for the diagnosis of type 2 reaction. The NLR cut-off points for diagnosis of any leprosy reaction and for type 2 reaction were 2.75 (sensitivity 61.0%, specificity 92.0%, accuracy 77.0%) and 2.95 (sensitivity 81.0%, specificity 74.0%, accuracy 78.0%), respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that NLR could be a potential biomarker for diagnosis of leprosy reaction and useful for discriminating patients with type 2 reactions from those with type 1 leprosy reactions.
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Knowledge of the role of Tregs in the immunopathogenesis of the different clinical outcomes within the leprosy spectrum remains limited due to the lack of studies directly assessing their suppression capacity. We thus tested a protocol to expand Tregs from the peripheral blood of patients across the leprosy spectrum and analyzed their suppressive capacity in autologous TCD4+ responses. Results of these pilot assays show that Tregs can be expanded and exert suppressive capacity, but also that their rate of expansion and suppressive capacity are influenced by the patient's clinical classification, suggesting that they possibly retain some in vivo characteristics.
Subject(s)
Leprosy/immunology , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology , Cell Proliferation , Humans , Immune Tolerance , Leprosy/blood , Leprosy/classification , Mycobacterium lepraemurium , Pilot ProjectsABSTRACT
Leprosy patients may present with immune system impairment and have a higher hepatitis B virus (HBV) seroprevalence, justifying the investigation of occult HBV infection in these individuals. The aim of this study was to verify the frequency and the clinical factors associated with occult HBV infection in leprosy patients. Between 2015 and 2016, leprosy patients from a reference center in Brazil were interviewed to assess clinical data. Blood samples were collected for the screening of HBV serological markers using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients with negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) that had positive anti-HBc and/or anti-HBs were selected for HBV DNA detection using real-time polymerase chain reaction. SPSS was used for data analysis. Among 114 selected patients, six were identified with occult infection (5.3%) and five of them with multibacillary leprosy. Three patients with occult infection had a history of a type 2 reaction (P = 0.072; OR, 4.97; 95% CI, 0.87-28.52). Only two patients with occult infection had isolated anti-HBc, while three had isolated anti-HBs, including those with the highest HBV DNA titers. In conclusion, in leprosy patients with negative HBsAg and positive anti-HBc and/or anti-HBs, occult HBV infection occurs in 5.3% and can be found even in patients with isolated anti-HBs.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Leprosy/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Brazil/epidemiology , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , DNA, Viral/blood , Female , Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Viral Load , Young AdultABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the intracellular profile of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from leprosy patients based on oral infections presence to determine whether these coinfections could be associated with pro-inflammatory activity in leprosy. METHODS:Leprosy patients regardless of clinical form and specific leprosy treatment (n=38) were divided into two groups: Group I - leprosy patients with oral infections (n=19), and Group II - leprosy patients without oral infections (n=19). Non-leprosy patients presenting oral infections were assigned to the control Group (n=10). Intracellular IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ production was evaluated by flow cytometry (FACS) before and 7 days after controlling the oral infection in the Group I, before and 7 days after dental prophylaxis in the Group II, and during oral infection process in control Group. RESULTS: Low percentages of CD3+ lymphocytes bearing IL-2, IL-10 and IFN-γ were observed in the Group I and Group II at baseline and 7 days after therapy or prophylaxis compared to controls. Group I showed reduced percentages of IL-4 at baseline and 7 days after therapy compared to controls, or at baseline of Group II, and the Group II showed reduced percentages of CD3+ cells bearing IL-4 compared to control. An increase of the percentages of CD3+cells bearing IL-4 was observed in the Group I after the oral infections treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of oral infections favors the intracellular cytokines expression and, probably, the inflammatory reaction operating as a stimulatory signal triggering the leprosy reactions.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Coinfection/immunology , Cytokines/immunology , Leprosy/immunology , Lymphocytes/immunology , Periodontal Diseases/immunology , Case-Control Studies , Cytokines/blood , Interferon-gamma/blood , Interferon-gamma/immunology , /blood , /immunology , /blood , /immunology , /blood , /immunology , Leprosy/complications , Periodontal Diseases/complicationsABSTRACT
Leprosy spectrum and outcome is associated with the host immune response against Mycobacterium leprae. The role of coinfections in leprosy patients may be related to a depression of cellular immunity or amplification of inflammatory responses. Leprosy remains endemic in several regions where human T cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) are also endemic. We have evaluated the evidence for the possible role of these viruses in the clinical manifestations and outcomes of leprosy. HTLV-1, HBV and HCV are associated with leprosy in some regions and institutionalization is an important risk factor for these viral coinfections. Some studies show a higher prevalence of viral coinfection in lepromatous cases. Although HBV and HCV coinfection were associated with reversal reaction in one study, there is a lack of information about the consequences of viral coinfections in leprosy. It is not known whether clinical outcomes associated with leprosy, such as development of reactions or relapses could be attributed to a specific viral coinfection. Furthermore, whether the leprosy subtype may influence the progression of the viral coinfection is unknown. All of these important and intriguing questions await prospective studies to definitively establish the actual relationship between these entities.
Subject(s)
Humans , Coinfection/virology , HTLV-I Infections/virology , Hepatitis B/virology , Hepatitis C/virology , Leprosy/virology , Disease Progression , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Type-1 (T1R) and Type-2 (T2R) leprosy reactions (LR), which affect up to 50% of leprosy patients, are aggressive inflammatory episodes of sudden onset and highly variable incidence across populations. LR are often diagnosed concurrently with leprosy, but more frequently occur several months after treatment onset. It is not uncommon for leprosy patients to develop recurring reactional episodes; however, they rarely undergo both types of LR. Today, LR are the main cause of permanent disabilities associated with leprosy and represent a major challenge in the clinical management of leprosy patients. Although progress has been made in understanding the immunopathology of LR, the factors that cause a leprosy patient to suffer from LR are largely unknown. Given the impact that ethnic background has on the risk of developing LR, host genetic factors have long been suspected of contributing to LR. Indeed, polymorphisms in seven genes [Toll-like receptors (TLR)1, TLR2, nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain containing 2, vitamin D receptor, natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1, C4B and interleukin-6] have been found to be associated with one or more LR outcomes. The identification of host genetic markers with predictive value for LR would have a major impact on nerve damage control in leprosy. In this review, we present the recent advances achieved through genetic studies of LR.
Subject(s)
Humans , Biomarkers , Leprosy , Leprosy/genetics , Leprosy/immunology , Leprosy/pathologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the frequency of coinfections in leprosy patients and whether there is a relationship between the presence of coinfections and the development of leprosy reactional episodes. METHOD: A cross-sectional study based on an analysis of the medical records of the patients who were treated at the Leprosy Clinics of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, was conducted from 2000 to 2010. Information was recorded regarding the age, sex, clinical status, WHO classification, treatment, presence of reactions and coinfections. Focal and systemic infections were diagnosed based on the history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. Multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between the leprosy reactions and the patients' gender, age, WHO classification and coinfections. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-five patients were studied. Most of these patients were males (155/225 = 68.8%) of an average age of 49.31±15.92 years, and the most prevalent clinical manifestation was the multibacillary (MB) form (n = 146), followed by the paucibacillary (PB) form (n = 79). Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) was more prevalent (78/122 = 63.9%) than the reversal reaction (RR) (44/122 = 36.1%), especially in the MB patients (OR 5.07; CI 2.86-8.99; p<0.0001) who exhibited coinfections (OR 2.26; CI 1.56-3.27; p,<0.0001). Eighty-eight (88/225 = 39.1%) patients exhibited coinfections. Oral coinfections were the most prevalent (40/88 = 45.5%), followed by urinary tract infections (17/88 = 19.3%), sinusopathy (6/88 = 6.8%), hepatitis C (6/88 = 6.8%), and hepatitis B (6/88 = 6.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Coinfections may be involved in the development and maintenance of leprosy reactions.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Coinfection/epidemiology , Leprosy/epidemiology , Age Distribution , Brazil/epidemiology , Epidemiologic Methods , Sex DistributionABSTRACT
Foi realizada uma busca na literatura sobre o tratamento da neuropatia da hanseníase durante episódios reacionais, no tocante às reações tipo 1 e tipo 2. O levantamento refere-se ao período 1976-2010. Foram consultadas as bases de dados LILAU, MEDLINE e LILACS. O enfoque principal foi o tratamento das reações hansênicas, com esteróides via oral empregado nos Programas de Controle da Hanseníase.
An extensive search on the treatment of leprosy reactions in nerves is presented. It covers almost four decades, from 1976 to 2010. The data bases screened were the LILAU, MEDLINE and LILACS. The focal point was to review the steroid treatment indication in the Leprosy Control Programs.
Subject(s)
Humans , Leprosy/complications , Leprosy/drug therapy , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases , Ulnar Nerve , Prednisone/pharmacologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated whether leprosy reactions could be associated with oral infection. METHODS: Leprosy patients (n = 38) with (Group I) and without (Group II) oral infections were selected. Reactions were identified from the clinical and histopathological features associated with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and10kDa interferon-gamma-induced protein (IP-10) levels, determined before and after elimination of the foci of infection. RESULTS: Group I presented more reactions than group II did, and improvement of the reactions after dental treatment. Serum CRP and IP-10 did not differ before and after the dental treatment, but differed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Oral infection could be an exacerbating factor in leprosy reactions.
INTRODUÇÃO: Este estudo avaliou se as reações hansênicas podem estar associadas a infecções orais. MÉTODOS: Pacientes com hanseníase (n=38) com (Grupo I) e sem (Grupo II) infecções orais foram selecionados. As reações foram identificadas pelas características clínicas, histopatológicas, associadas a proteína-C-reativa (PCR) e proteína indutora de interferon-gamma de 10kDa (IP-10) séricos determinados antes e após a eliminação dos focos de infecção. RESULTADOS: Grupo I apresentou mais reações que o grupo II, e melhora das reações após o tratamento odontológico. PCR e IP-10 séricos não diferiram antes e após o tratamento odontológico, entretanto diferiram entre os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: As infecções orais podem ser exacerbadores das reações hansênicas.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Interferon-gamma/blood , Leprosy/pathology , Stomatognathic Diseases/complications , Case-Control Studies , Leprosy/blood , Periodontal Diseases/complicationsABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of leprosy reactional episodes could be associated with chronic oral infection. Thirty-eight leprosy patients were selected and divided into 2 groups: group I - 19 leprosy patients with oral infections, and group II - 19 leprosy patients without oral infections. Ten patients without leprosy, but presenting oral infections, were assigned to the control group. Leprosy patients were classified according to Ridley and Jopling classification and reactional episodes of the erythema nodosum type or reversal reaction were identified by clinical and histopathological features associated with serum IL-1, TNF-?, IL-6, IFN-? and IL-10 levels. These analyses were performed immediately before and 7 days after the oral infection elimination. Patients from group I presenting oral infections reported clinical improvement of the symptoms of reactional episodes after dental treatment. Serum IL-1, TNF-?, IL-6, IFN-? and IL-10 levels did not differ significantly before and after dental treatment as determined by the Wilcoxon test (p>0.05). Comparison of the 2 groups showed statistically significant differences in IL-1 and IL-6 at baseline and in IL-1, IL-6 and IL-10 on the occasion of both collections 7 days after therapy. Serum IL-6 and IL-10 levels in group I differed significantly at baseline compared to control (Mann-Whitney test; p<0.05). These results suggest that oral infection could be involved as a maintenance factor in the pathogenesis of leprosy reactional episodes.
O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar se os episódios reacionais da hanseníase podem estar associados a infecções orais crônicas. Trinta e oito pacientes com hanseníase foram selecionados e divididos em dois grupos: grupo I & 19 pacientes com hanseníase apresentando infecções orais, e grupo II & 19 pacientes com hanseníase sem infecções orais. Os pacientes foram classificados, quanto à forma clínica da doença, de acordo com Ridley and Jopling, e os episódios reacionais, tipo eritema nodoso e reação reversa, foram identificados pelas características clínicas, histopatológicas associadas à quantificação no soro de IL-1, TNF-?, IL-6, IFN-? e IL-10. Estas analises foram realizadas imediatamente antes e 7 dias após a resolução dos focos de infecção. Pacientes do grupo I aprentando infecções orais relataram melhora clínica dos sintomas dos episódios reacionais após o tratamento odontológico. Os níveis séricos de IL-1, TNF-?, IL-6, IFN-? e IL-10 não diferiram significantemente antes e após o tratamento odontológico, como determinado pelo teste Wilcoxon (p>0,05). As comparações entre os grupos mostrou diferenças estatisticamente significantes nos níveis de IL-1 e IL-6 na coleta inicial e nos níveis de IL-1, IL-6 e IL-10 nas duas coletas 7 dias após o tratamento (teste Mann-Whitney; p<0,05). Estes resultados sugerem que infecções orais estão envolvidas na patogênese dos episódios reacionais da hanseníase, como fatores mantenedores.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Cytokines/immunology , Dental Pulp Diseases/complications , Hypersensitivity/immunology , Leprosy/immunology , Periapical Periodontitis/immunology , Case-Control Studies , Chronic Disease , Cytokines/blood , Dental Pulp Diseases/blood , Dental Pulp Diseases/immunology , Hypersensitivity/blood , Hypersensitivity/complications , Interferon-gamma/blood , Interferon-gamma/immunology , Interleukin-1/blood , Interleukin-1/immunology , /blood , /immunology , /blood , /immunology , Leprosy/blood , Leprosy/complications , Periapical Periodontitis/blood , Periapical Periodontitis/complications , Recurrence , Reference Values , Statistics, Nonparametric , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy, is an infectious disease still prevalent in Brazil. It is a chronic illness with acute immunological phenomena known as leprosy reactions. In the Federal District of Brazil, the University Hospital of Brasília is the reference centre for leprosy care. The study aimed to characterize the clinical and epidemiological profile of Hansen's disease patients at the University Hospital of Brasília, by descriptive, retrospective analysis of 1,124 patients over the period from 1985 to 2005. The pattern of leprosy in this study demonstrated that type 2 leprosy reactions were common, especially in the lepromatous form and presented a direct correlation with the bacilloscopic index. The prevalence and frequency of severe complications, such as leprosy reactions, emphasize the importance of the ongoing study of leprosy and the need for continual improvement in the scope of knowledge concerning its treatment.
Hanseníase, também conhecida como lepra, é doença infecciosa prevalente no Brasil. Caracteriza-se por curso crônico, com fenômenos imunológicos agudos denominados episódios reacionais. No Distrito Federal, o Hospital Universitário de Brasília é referência na assistência da hanseníase. O objetivo do estudo foi caracterizar o perfil clínico-epidemiológico dos doentes portadores de hanseníase do Hospital Universitário de Brasília. Foi realizada análise descritiva e retrospectiva de 1124 doentes portadores de hanseníase no período de 1985 a 2005. O padrão da hanseníase no nosso estudo concretizou-se por apresentar maior prevalência de reações do tipo 2, especialmente na forma lepromatosa e correlacionando-se diretamente com o índice baciloscópico. A significativa prevalência e freqüência de complicações graves como os episódios reacionais ressaltam a importância do estudo da doença e a necessidade de aprimoramento contínuo dos conhecimentos sobre a mesma.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Leprosy/epidemiology , Brazil/epidemiology , Leprosy/classification , Leprosy/complications , Leprosy/diagnosis , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
A reação hansênica é um dos maiores problemas no manejo dos pacientes portadores de hanseníase, no programa de controle da endemia. Muitos pacientes, durante o tratamento ou mesmo após a alta, buscam a unidade de saúde com complicações clínicas caracterizadas por processo inflamatório, acompanhado de dor, mal estar e, algumas vezes, piora do grau de incapacidade. O desconhecimento da magnitude do problema da reação hansênica no município do Rio de Janeiro dificulta o planejamento de seu efetivo controle pelo programa de controle desta endemia. Este estudo demonstrou a freqüência dos estados reacionais em pacientes de unidades básicas de saúde da Área de Planejamento (AP.) 3.2, tratados para hanseníase com poliquimioterapia padrão OMS no período de 1991 - 2004. Neste estudo verificou-se o perfil sócio-demográfico e clínico associados à ocorrência de episódios reacionais nos pacientes do estudo. Trata-se de estudo do tipo coorte não concorrente, cuja fonte de dados foi 667 prontuários. Identificou-se que a maioria dos portadores de hanseníase tinha idade entre 35 e 54 anos; eram mulheres (52,3%), casadas e referiram baixo nível de escolaridade. A presença de reação foi constatada em 43,5% dos prontuários avaliados. A freqüência de reações foi mais elevada entre as seguintes características: homens 49,4% (157), formas clínicas dimorfa e virchowiana, baciloscopia positiva, graus de incapacidade ?zero? e ?um? e tratamento acima de 12 doses. Estas características deveriam ser levadas em conta no cuidado aos portadores de hanseníase, para que a detecção precoce das reações e a instituição do tratamento específico pudessem diminuir a possibilidade de instalação de incapacidades físicas e seqüelas.
Leprosy reaction is one of the greatest problems in leprosy control programs. During treatment or even after end of treatment, many patients return to the healthcare unit with reactions characterized by inflammatory process, pain, malaise and at times a increased grade of incapacity. The inability to estimate the magnitude of leprosy reaction in the Rio de Janeiro municipality difficulted the planning of effective leprosy control program. This study demosntrated the frequency of reactions in patients from the basic health units who were treated with multidrugtherapy (MDT) from 1991 to 2004. The study also characterized the socio-demographic and clinical profile associated to the occurrence of reactional episodes in patients of the study. This is a cohort non-concurrent study using as data source 667 medical charts. The majority of leprosy patients were between 35 and 54 year, they were mostly married womem (52.3%) with low schooling levels. During the evaluation period 43.5% patients presented reactions. The reaction rate was higher among: males (49.4%, n=157, patients with borderline or lepromatous forms, positive bacillary index, grade of incapacity zero and one and patients who received over 12 doses of treatment. These characteristics should be taken into account when caring for leprosy patients, so that early detection of reactions and initiation of specific treatment may diminish the onset of physical incapacities and sequels.