title: Leprosy. An update: definition, pathogenesis, classification, diagnosis, and treatment.
abstract: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. It primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves and is still endemic in various regions of the world. Clinical presentation depends on the patient's immune status at the time of infection and during the course of the disease. Leprosy is associated with disability and marginalization. Diagnosis is clinical and is made when the patient has at least 1 of the following cardinal signs specified by the World Health Organization: hypopigmented or erythematous macules with sensory loss; thickened peripheral nerves; or positive acid-fast skin smear or skin biopsy with loss of adnexa at affected sites. Leprosy is treated with a multidrug combination of rifampicin, clofazimine, and dapsone. Two main regimens are used depending on whether the patient has paucibacillary or multibacillary disease.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario José Eleuterio González, Monterrey Nuevo León, Mexico. eichelmannk@gmail.com
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eichelmann
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: González González
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Salas-Alanis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ocampo-Candiani
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D014943:Global Health; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D007916:Lepromin; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007918:Leprosy / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D006017:Glycolipids; D007917:Leprostatic Agents; C045169:phenolic glycolipid I, Mycobacterium leprae; D007916:Lepromin
keywords: Baciloscopia; Disability; Discapacidad; Enfermedad de Hansen; Hansen disease; Lepra; Leprosy; M. leprae; Multibacilar; Multibacillary; Multidrug therapy; Multiterapia; Mycobacteria leprae; Paucibacilar; Paucibacillary; Smear test