Abstract

Introduction: Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a prevalent and preventable cause of peripheral neuropathy. It impacts myelination and causes peripheral neuropathy. Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease that occurs in more than 120 countries. Substantial numbers of people with leprosy-related nerve damage have lifelong functional and social disabilities. This study aims to unveil the electrophysiological pattern of peripheral nerves in leprosy, including quantitative sensory tests, and explore their correlation with the duration of the disease in a tertiary referral hospital in western India.

Objectives: To determine nerve conduction velocity and sensory parameters in patients of leprosy and To co-relate biothesiometer findings with the nerve conduction study finding

Materials and methods: Conducted the t Department of Physiology AFMC for 3 months

Inclusion Criteria: Patient diagnosed with a case of leprosy and under treatment for the same age group between 12 to 60 years of both sexes without lepra reaction with 32 patients of leprosy; convenience sampling was done

All the patients were evaluated at baseline by the Department of Dermatology. Assessed in the department of physiology, where the Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) was performed using the RMS Salus IV, Motor studies, and sensory studies. Further, F-wave studies were done. Quantitative sensory done by a portable biothesiometer – Neurotouch, done in a total of 12 points, six on each foot

Results: We studied 32 cases of leprosy, with patients ranging in age from 22 to 49.

Conclusions: In our study, most patients were males, and 75% were overweight. The most common clinical finding is numbness in the affected site (81%), which aligns with other studies. 26 (81%) had lost their Heat Perception, followed by loss of vibration perception (65%), which was higher than the loss to the 10gm Monofilament test. This is in line with various studies. An electrophysiological investigation seems helpful for the prognosis and diagnosis of the disease.

Some association was found between f-wave and biothesiometer findings. This shows that a biothesiometer can be a noninvasive and portable method; however, further study with a large population is needed.