title: Neural relapse in multibacillary leprosy 6 years after end of treatment.
abstract: This article presents a case of relapse, with isolated neural manifestation, in a multibacillary patient previously treated with multidrug therapy for multibacillary leprosy (24 doses). The patient returned to the service six years after the end of treatment, with pain in hands and legs. He was investigated, and the serological monitoring showed an important increase in anti-phenolic glycolipid serum levels. A neural recurrence was suspected, since the patient had no new skin lesions. A new biopsy in the right ulnar nerve showed a bacilloscopy of 2 +, compatible with relapse. This is a literature review of the etiological, clinical, propedeutical and diagnostic aspects of this situation so poorly understood.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima, Bauru, SP, Brazil. oliteixeira@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Leandra Oliveira
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Carlos Maximiliano Gaspar Carvalho Heil
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Hélcio Takeshi
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Akamatsu
authors.forename: Jaison Antônio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Cleverson Teixeira
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D056006:Leprosy, Multibacillary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000473:pathology