Acute abdomen in lepromatous (LL) leprosy

Leprosy Mailing List – November 3^rd, 2011

Ref.:   Acute abdomen in lepromatous (LL) leprosy.
From: Barreto J, Bauru, S. Paulo, Brazil

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Dear Salvatore, 

The questions that must be made about this case:

1. Is this patient with active (non treated) lepromatous leprosy?  If the answer is yes, Lucio's fenomenon must be ruled out; once it is not uncommom deep vascular trombosis in this type of leprosy.

2. Is this patient in erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL or type 2) reaction?  As well as in Lucio's fenomenon, deep trombosis also can occur during this reaction.  Dr Opromolla and Dr Raul Fleury published cases of deep vascular trombosis during type 2 reaction, in the past, in Hansenologia Internationalis (www.ilsl.br).  Some cases developed even myocardial infarction.

If the answer to both questions is no, other causes must be involved.

Regards,

Jaison