title: [Visual evoked potential in leprosy patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the possible alterations in visual evoked potential of leprosy patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Visual evoked potential examinations were performed in 13 Hansen disease patients, 5 of them with the multibacillary form and 8 with the paucibacillary. This was done at the moment of the diagnosis. The control group enrolled 15 health individuals, without Hansen disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The measurement result varied from 102.0 to 120.5 ms, with a mean of 110.1+/-5.7 ms. In the multibacillary form, the values varied from 109.0 to 120.0 ms, mean 111.1+/-5.4. In the paucibacillary, the values varied from 102.0 to 120.5 ms, with a mean of 109.5+/-6.1 ms. The latency values were significantly greater in Hansen disease patients (p<0.0001), even if multibacillary and paucibacillary forms were compared separately. However, there was no significant difference when the pauci- and multibacillary groups were compared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The latency values were significantly greater in leprosy patients. A recommendation can be made for these patients, which is to be submitted to early visual evoked potential as a rule in order to investigate ocular complications, as well as to prevent damages.
authors.affiliation: Fundação Altino Ventura, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: João Lins
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: de Andrade Neto
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Raquel Barbosa Paes
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Tiago Eugênio Faria
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: de Arantes
authors.forename: Laura Patrícia Ferreira
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*