Could leprosy reaction episodes be exacerbated by oral infections?
BACKGROUND
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.
Department of Morphology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. anacfm@usp.br
Ana Carolina Fragoso
AC
Motta
Renata Bazan
RB
Furini
João Carlos Lopes
JC
Simão
Mariana Bellini
MB
Vieira
Maria Aparecida Nunes
MA
Ferreira
Marilena Chinali
MC
Komesu
Norma Tiraboschi
NT
Foss
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002097:C-Reactive Protein