title: Primary neural leprosy: systematic review.
abstract: The authors proposed a systematic review on the current concepts of primary neural leprosy by consulting the following online databases: MEDLINE, Lilacs/SciELO, and Embase. Selected studies were classified based on the degree of recommendation and levels of scientific evidence according to the "Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine". The following aspects were reviewed: cutaneous clinical and laboratorial investigations, i.e. skin clinical exam, smears, and biopsy, and Mitsuda's reaction; neurological investigation (anamnesis, electromyography and nerve biopsy); serological investigation and molecular testing, i.e. serological testing for the detection of the phenolic glycolipid 1 (PGL-I) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and treatment (classification criteria for the definition of specific treatment, steroid treatment, and cure criteria).
authors.affiliation: Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima, Secretaria de Estado de Saúde, São Paulo,SP, Brazil. garbino.blv@terra.com.br
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Garbino
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Jaison Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Carlos Otto
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Heise
authors.forename: Márcia Maria Jardim
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Sérgio L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: Cleverson Teixeira
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Marcos Cesar
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Floriano
authors.forename: José Augusto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nery
authors.forename: Maria Angela Bianconcini
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.forename: Noêmia Barbosa
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Nathália Carvalho de
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Andrada
authors.forename: Amilton Antunes
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Barreira
authors.forename: Marcos da Cunha Lopes
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Virmond
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology