title: Facial sensory loss in multi-bacillary leprosy patients.
abstract: Sensation over the face was estimated using the Semmes-Weinstein's monofilament (target force 0-05 gms) in a cohort of multi-bacillary (MB) patients whose clinical and ocular characteristics were available at the time of leprosy diagnosis. Among the 190 MB patients examined, 56 (30%) had areas of sensory impairment somewhere on the face and 43 (23%) had sensory deficit over the lids and/or the malar area. Lagophthalmos (adjusted OR 8.96, 95% CI 0.96-83.50), Type 1 reaction (aOR 2.47, 95% CI 1.11-5-52), history of reactions (aOR 6.36, 95% CI 2.40-16.85) and glove and stocking anaesthesia (aOR 3.49, 95% CI 1-40-8.70) were associated with impaired facial sensation. Hypoesthesia restricted to areas over the lids and/or malar area showed a stronger association with lagophthalmos (aOR 17.5, 95% CI 1.98-154.36). Loss of facial sensation appears to be associated with lagophthalmos in MB patients.
authors.affiliation: Schieffelin Leprosy Research and Training Center, Karigiri, India. ebdaniel@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Ebenezer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.affiliation: Schieffelin Leprosy Research and Training Center, Karigiri, India.
authors.forename: P S S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Epidemiologic & International Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Courtright
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005143:Eyelids / Q000503:physiopathology; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056006:Leprosy, Multibacillary / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged