The oral cavity in leprosy: what clinicians need to know.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a bacillus that has a tropism for skin and peripheral nerves. Leprosy treatment is based on a multidrug therapy established by the World Health Organization in 1982 and, despite its widespread use, Brazil ranks second worldwide in numbers of cases. Oral involvement in leprosy has been poorly described in the literature, and few studies have shown that although the bacillus is found in mucosa, specific leprosy lesions are rare and affect patients with advanced stages of the disease. This review aimed to assess the literature on oral manifestations in leprosy and the aspects involving oral cavity in leprosy pathogenesis.
Department of Stomatology, Public Oral Health and Forensic Dentistry, Oral Diagnosis Division, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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GA
Rodrigues
Department of Stomatology, Public Oral Health and Forensic Dentistry, Oral Diagnosis Division, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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NP
Qualio
Dentistry and Stomatology Division, Ribeirão Preto Clinical Hospital, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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de Macedo
Dentistry and Stomatology Division, Ribeirão Preto Clinical Hospital, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Lmar
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Innocentini
Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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Ribeiro-Silva
Department of Internal Medicine, Dermatology Division, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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Foss
Department of Internal Medicine, Dermatology Division, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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Frade
Department of Stomatology, Public Oral Health and Forensic Dentistry, Oral Diagnosis Division, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Acf
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Motta
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D015415:Biomarkers

Mycobacterium leprae
; immunology; leprosy; oral cavity; reactional episodes; saliva