Cranial nerve involvement in patients with leprous neuropathy.
BACKGROUND
Leprosy is one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy, perhaps closely matched by diabetic neuropathy. Patterns of peripheral neuropathy in leprosy can be varied, which may include mononeuropathy, mononeuritis multiplex and symmetric polyneuropathy. Cranial nerves, especially facial and trigeminal nerves, are also commonly involved in leprosy.


OBJECTIVE
To find out the pattern and spectrum of cranial nerve involvement in a consecutive series of patients with leprous neuropathy.


METHODS
A retrospective review of patients admitted with leprosy to the Neurology Department of a tertiary care center.


METHODS
All consecutive patients admitted during an 8-year period (1995-2003) and diagnosed to have leprosy were included. They were clinically evaluated to determine the frequency and pattern of cranial nerve involvement.


RESULTS
About 18% (9/51) of the leprosy patients seen during that period had clinical evidence of cranial nerve involvement. Facial and trigeminal nerves were the most commonly affected (five and four patients respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Cranial nerve involvement is common in leprosy, which emphasizes the need to carefully examine them. Also, one should exclude leprosy in patients presenting with isolated cranial neuropathies.
Kumar
Sudhir
S
Department of Neurological Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. drsudhirkumar@yahoo.com
Alexander
Mathew
M
Gnanamuthu
Chandran
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000473:pathology*