TY - JOUR
KW - Neuritis
KW - leprosy
KW - Evaluation
KW - Disability
AU - Pimentel 
AU - Nery 
AU - Borges 
AU - Rolo 
AU - Sarno 
AB - BACKGROUND - Silent neuritis is defined as deterioration of the neural function without neural pain, in contrast
to overt neuritis, characterized by pain in the peripheral nerve that may accompany damage to neural function.
Its early detection is important to prevent the development of leprosy disabilities.
OBJECTIVES - To evaluate the frequency of silent neuritis in multibacillary leprosy patients.
METHODS - One hundred and three patients (18.4% BB, 47.6% BL and 34% LL) were followed-up for an average of 64.6
months from diagnosis, during and after multidrug therapy, in relation to physical impairments and according to a
disability grade.
RESULTS - Patients that presented a worsening of the disability grade by the end of treatment or at the end of follow-up
compared to the baseline grade or to the end of treatment, were studied. Altogether we detected five patients (4.9% of
the total) that developed silent neuritis, during or after multidrug therapy.
CONCLUSION - We recommend a careful regular neurological examination of multibacillary patients, with a view to prompt detection and treatment of silent neuritis. 
BT - An bras Dermatol
CN - PIMENTEL 2004
IS - 2
LA - eng, por
N2 - BACKGROUND - Silent neuritis is defined as deterioration of the neural function without neural pain, in contrast
to overt neuritis, characterized by pain in the peripheral nerve that may accompany damage to neural function.
Its early detection is important to prevent the development of leprosy disabilities.
OBJECTIVES - To evaluate the frequency of silent neuritis in multibacillary leprosy patients.
METHODS - One hundred and three patients (18.4% BB, 47.6% BL and 34% LL) were followed-up for an average of 64.6
months from diagnosis, during and after multidrug therapy, in relation to physical impairments and according to a
disability grade.
RESULTS - Patients that presented a worsening of the disability grade by the end of treatment or at the end of follow-up
compared to the baseline grade or to the end of treatment, were studied. Altogether we detected five patients (4.9% of
the total) that developed silent neuritis, during or after multidrug therapy.
CONCLUSION - We recommend a careful regular neurological examination of multibacillary patients, with a view to prompt detection and treatment of silent neuritis. 
PY - 2004
SP - 169
EP - 179
T2 - An bras Dermatol
TI - [Silent neuritis in multibacillary leprosy evaluated through the development of disabilities before, during and after multidrug therapy
TT - Neurite silenciosa na hanseníase multibacilar avaliada através da evolução das incapacidades antes, durante e após a poliquimioterapia
UR - http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abd/v79n2/20063.pdf
VL - 79
ER -