Nerve thickening in leprosy - Are there standards?

Ref.: Nerve thickening in leprosy. Are there standards?
From: Krishna Moorthy K. V., Cherlapally, Hyderabad, India


Dear Dr Noto,

Incidence of leprosy although has come down, still we get cases of leprosy (all types). Some of the cases come with establish deformities of recent origin. We would like to focus in the prevention of deformity formation, for which we wish to undertake suitable measures.

In this connection, assessment of peripheral nerve involvement is a key issue. Anamnesis, palpation, sensory and motor tests are among the modalities used for the evaluation of the peripheral nerve trunks of predilection in leprosy. About the enlargement of the nerves, are there standards to help in assessing this cardinal sign of leprosy?

I shall be highly thankful if you could inform us about gradation of nerve thickening in leprosy with neuritis.

I hope that this information could be obtained from you.

With regards,

Krishna Moorthy

Dr. KV Krishna Moorthy
Head, Clinical & Epidemiology Division
Blue Peter Research Centre, LEPRA SocietyNear TEC Bldg, Cherlapally
Hyderabad – 501 301, AP
IndiaTel. 91 40 27264547, 27261261 Fax: 91 40 27261262Email: bprc@bprcleprasociety.org