title: Lucio's leprosy: a clinical and therapeutic challenge.
abstract: Leprosy has been a challenge in different areas of medicine; in underdeveloped countries it remains a public health problem, in which the social and economic problems facilitate the disease persistence. The diagnosis and consequently the treatment are delayed due to the clinical polymorphism of leprosy, which especially at the beginning the manifestations are not as evident, as is the case of diffuse lepromatous leprosy. This favors the disabilities and the development of the reaction episodes. Fortunately, reaction episodes have decreased with the use of multidrug therapy, and better control of the type 2 reactions has been managed with the use of thalidomide, as in Lucio's phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Centro Dermatologico "Dr. Ladislao de la Pascua," Ministry of Health of the Government of The Federal District of Mexico City, Mexico. Electronic address: fermin_santac@yahoo.com.mx.
authors.forename: Fermin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jurado
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Centro Dermatologico "Dr. Ladislao de la Pascua," Ministry of Health of the Government of The Federal District of Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Obdulia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Department Dermatopathology, Centro Dermatologico "Dr. Ladislao de la Pascua," Ministry of Health of the Government of The Federal District of Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Novales
authors.affiliation: Department Dermatopathology, Centro Dermatologico "Dr. Ladislao de la Pascua," Ministry of Health of the Government of The Federal District of Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Navarrete
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Centro Dermatologico "Dr. Ladislao de la Pascua," Ministry of Health of the Government of The Federal District of Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Myrna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000187:drug effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D013792:Thalidomide