title: Correlation between clinical tests and electroneuromyography for the diagnosis of leprosy neuropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In leprosy, sensory function of nerves is evaluated with monofilaments test and the motor function with voluntary muscle test, however electroneuromyography is considered as the gold-standard tool.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed: i) to evaluate the correlation between clinical tests and electroneuromyography for the diagnosis of leprosy neuropathy; and ii) to identify the prevalence of leprosy neuropathy and the most compromised peripheral nerves in leprosy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the data from a nested case-control study that identified 166 patients diagnosed with leprosy neuropathy confirmed by electromyography. This study was designed for an analysis of correlation between the diagnostic tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most prevalent type of the neural damage was the sensory and motor multiple mononeuropathy, observed in 62 (37.3%) cases. The highest prevalence was the ulnar nerve in 67 (40.3%) cases. Agreement specified by nerves was moderate, ranging from k = 0.58 in the deep peroneal nerve to k = 0.41 in the posterior tibial nerve). Overall agreement between the clinical tests and electroneuromyography was very poor. Monofilaments test with k = 0.02 (95% CI 0.00-0.12) and voluntary muscle test with 0.16 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.28, P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a low to moderate correlation between clinical tests (monofilaments and voluntary muscle tests) and the electroneuromyography examination. The most prevalent type of neural impairment was the sensory and motor multiple mononeuropathy, and the most affected nerve was the ulnar.
authors.forename: Pedro Olavo De Paula
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Francisco Marcos Bezerra
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Heitor De Sá
authors.initials: Hde S
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Maria Araci Pontes
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aires
authors.forename: Rosa Lívia Freitas
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: De Almeida
authors.forename: Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult