Early nerve damage in leprosy: an electrophysiological study of ulnar and median nerves in patients with and without clinical neural deficits.
BACKGROUND
Peripheral nerve trunk involvement in leprosy is very common. However, by the time it becomes clinically manifest, the damage is quite advanced. If the preclinical nerve damage can be detected early, the deformities and disabilities can be prevented to a large extent.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the electrophysiological functions of the ulnar and median nerve trunks in cases of clinically manifest leprosy with and without manifest nerve damage at different durations of nerve damage.


METHODS
Electrophysiological functions of ulnar and median nerves were studied in leprosy patients, both normal and at different stages of disease and damage. PB cases, having disease for six months or less, without neurological symptoms and clinically normal appearing nerve.


METHODS
Mean was taken of different values. The changes in values of different parameters were expressed as percentage change with reference to the control values (increase or decrease).


RESULTS
Reduced nerve conduction velocities and changes in latency and amplitude were observed. Changes in sensory nerve conduction were more pronounced. Sensory latencies and amplitude changes were more severe than motor latencies and amplitudes in cases with manifest muscle palsies. Changes in MB cases were less marked.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies are needed to identify parameters likely to be helpful in the diagnosis of early nerve damage.
Husain
Sajid
S
Central Jalma Institute for Leprosy, Tajganj, Agra - 282 001, Delhi, India. shusain@mail.com
Malaviya
G N
GN
D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*