Effectiveness of 32 versus 20 weeks of prednisolone in leprosy patients with recent nerve function impairment: A randomized controlled trial

A systematic review of steroid use in peripheral nerve pathologies and treatment

Background

The use of corticosteroids has become a part of the standard of care in various pathologies but their use in peripheral nerve injury treatment is limited. Given corticosteroids' anti-inflammatory properties and their regulatory role in neuronal protein production and myelination, corticosteroids could serve as an adjunct therapy for peripheral nerve injuries. This review aims to systematically investigate the current use of corticosteroid treatment in peripheral nerve pathologies.

Methods

The systematic search was performed on PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science using keywords such as "corticosteroid treatment," "peripheral nerve damage," "peripheral neuropathy," and "complications." The PRISMA guidelines were used to conduct the systematic review and all articles were reviewed by the corresponding author. After the initial search, individual study titles and abstracts were further screened and categorized using an inclusion and exclusion criteria followed by a final full-text review.

Results

Out of the total 27,922 identified records, 203 studies were included based on the selection criteria. These studies focused on the use and efficacy of steroids across a spectrum of compression and non-compression peripheral neuropathies such as cubital tunnel syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Various studies noted the promising role of steroids in offering pain relief, nerve block, and nerve regeneration effects. Additionally, safety considerations and potential complications regarding steroid use in peripheral nerve injuries were analyzed.

Conclusion

While there is currently limited clinical utilization of corticosteroids in peripheral nerve pathologies, the anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects that steroids provide may be a beneficial tool in managing various peripheral neuropathies and their associated pain. Additional clinical trials and investigation into the mechanism of action could improve the reputation of steroid use as peripheral nerve injury treatment.

Leprosy Reactions: Experience in the Puerto Rico Hansen's Disease Population

OBJECTIVE

Hansen's disease (HD) is a chronic granulomatous infection endemic in the tropics. Its main clinical manifestations involve the cutaneous, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems. Leprosy reactions (LR) are systemic inflammatory and immune-mediated complications of HD. These include reversal reactions (RR), erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), and Lucio phenomenon. These reactions significantly increase disease-related morbidity and disability. We aimed to determine the number and type of LR, their association to hosts' immune responses (Ridley Jopling classification), timing of development, and treatment of HD patients in Puerto Rico.

METHODS

A retrospective medical record review was performed on 291 HD patients containing LR status data available from the Dermatology Service at the Hispanic Alliance for Clinical & Translational Research.

RESULTS

Our data revealed that 83 (29%) patients developed LR, of which 31% had RR and 69% had ENL. Most LR were observed in patients in the lepromatous border (97%): Borderline lepromatous leprosy (BL) and Lepromatous Leprosy (LL). Most patients with RR and ENL had a single episode (83% and 62%, respectively), and those that received multi-drug therapy (MDT) had a reaction onset occurring most frequently within the first year of MDT and after the first year of MDT, respectively. Prednisone was the first line treatment used to manage both types of LR.

CONCLUSION

Most lepromatous reactions occur within the lepromatous border. ENL was the most common LR. Prompt recognition and management of these immunologic reactions is essential to prevent long term nerve function impairment.

Effectiveness of neurolysis as a treatment for complications of leprosy neuritis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Complications of leprosy neuritis are considered serious and apparent, with the potential to disable and/or limit individuals. These complications affect not only a patient's physical functioning, but also their family and social lives, while directly impacting the ability to work and/or maintain financial independence, subsequently interfering with their overall quality of life. The present review, therefore, aimed to analyze the effectiveness of neurolysis as an alternative treatment for the complications associated with leprosy neuritis.

METHODS

The present review was performed based on the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, in an effort to answer the following research question: what is the effectiveness of neurolysis as a treatment for leprosy neuritis complications? This research question was defined using the patient-intervention-outcome (PIO) framework, where leprosy represents 'P', neurolysis for 'I', and neuropathic pain/motor function/sensorial function/physical disability/quality of life for 'O'. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials and prospective observational cohort studies were included in the present review, with no time or date restrictions.

RESULTS

The present review included 1 randomized clinical trial and 10 prospective studies, published between 1976 and 2020. All of the outcomes showed improvement, with relief from neuropathic pain being the primary finding.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence obtained in the present review suggested that neurolysis is an effective alternative for the treatment of physical disabilities, the recovery of sensory and motor function, the restoration of quality of life, and neuropathic pain relief.

Seventy years of evidence on the efficacy and safety of drugs for treating leprosy: a network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends multidrug therapy (MDT) with rifampicin, dapsone, and clofazimine for treating leprosy, which is based on very low-quality evidence. Here, we performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) to produce quantitative evidence to strengthen current WHO recommendations.

METHOD

All studies were obtained from Embase and PubMed from the date of establishment to October 9, 2021. Data were synthesized with frequentist random-effects network meta-analyses. Outcomes were assessed using odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), and P score.

RESULTS

Sixty controlled clinical trials and 9256 patients were included. MDT was effective (range of OR: 1.06-1255584.25) for treating leprosy and multibacillary leprosy. Six treatments (Range of OR: 1.199-4.50) were more effective than MDT. Clofazimine (P score=0.9141) and dapsone+rifampicin (P score=0.8785) were effective for treating type 2 leprosy reaction. There were no significant differences in the safety of any of the tested drug regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

The WHO MDT is effective for treating leprosy and multibacillary leprosy, but it may not be effective enough. Pefloxacin and ofloxacin may be good adjunct drugs for increasing MDT efficacy. Clofazimine and dapsone+rifampicin can be used in the treatment of a type 2 leprosy reaction. Single-drug regimens are not efficient enough to treat leprosy, multibacillary leprosy, or a type 2 leprosy reaction.

AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

Systematic Review of Survival Analysis in Leprosy Studies-Including the Following Outcomes: Relapse, Impairment of Nerve Function, Reactions and Physical Disability

Leprosy is a public health problem in South American, African and Oceanian countries. National programs need to be evaluated, and the survival analysis model can aid in the construction of new indicators. The aim of this study was to assess the period of time until the outcomes of interest for patients with or exposed to leprosy by means of survival analysis surveys. This review researched articles using the databases of PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Scielo and BVS published in English and Portuguese. Twenty-eight articles from Brazil, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia were included. The Kaplan-Meier method, which derives the log-rank test, and Cox's proportional hazards regression, which obtains the hazard ratio, were applied. The mean follow-up until the following outcomes were: (I) leprosy (2.3 years) in the population who were exposed to it, (II) relapse (5.9 years), (III) clinical manifestations before, during and after treatment-nerve function impairment (5.2 years), leprosy reactions (4.9 years) and physical disability (8.3 years) in the population of patients with leprosy. Therefore, the use of survival analysis will enable the evaluation of national leprosy programs and assist in the decision-making process to face public health problems.

Analysis of therapeutic effectiveness and adverse effects of long-term corticosteroids among leprosy patients with reactions: A retrospective cohort study

Objectives

Main therapy for leprosy reactions is 12 weeks corticosteroids according to World Health Organization recommendations, but recovery cannot be achieved and recurrence occurs. Long duration of administration was thought to provide better clinical improvement. Evidence of the efficacy of corticosteroids in leprosy reactions is still lacking, and optimal dose and duration of therapy vary, while the need for long-term high-dose corticosteroids makes it difficult to avoid adverse effects.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study analyzing the difference between therapeutic effectiveness and adverse effects of 12 weeks and >12 weeks corticosteroids, involving all new leprosy patients without age restriction, at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital and Cakung Community Health Center in Indonesia during 1 January 2015-31 December 2017. Secondary data were collected from medical records, and observations carried out until December 2018. Therapeutic effectiveness was assessed from clinical improvement to corticosteroids discontinuation, without 3 months recurrence after first cycle was completed. Adverse effects were assessed by all corticosteroids-related side effects.

Results

Of 195 patients, 57 (29.2%) used 12 weeks corticosteroids, and 138 (70.8%) for >12 weeks. Effectiveness occurred in 38 (66.7%) of 12 weeks group and 106 (76.8%) of >12 weeks group (relative risk = 0.604, 95% confidence interval = 0.307-1.189, p = 0.143). Of 145 patients, adverse effects occurred in 12 (31.6%) of 12 weeks group and 70 (65.4%) of >12 weeks group (relative risk = 0.244, 95% confidence interval = 0.111-0.538, p < 0.001). Of 171 adverse effects, 37.4% were mild such as dyspepsia, skin disorders, and lipodystrophy, while 62.6% were severe in the form of neuropsychiatric disorders, eye disorders, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, metabolic-hormonal abnormalities, and reactivation of infections.

Conclusion

There is no effectiveness difference in the form of clinical improvement without 3 months recurrence, between 12 weeks and >12 weeks corticosteroid, while longer administration causes 4 times more events.

Treatment and Evaluation Advances in Leprosy Neuropathy

Neuropathy and related disabilities are the major medical consequences of leprosy, which remains a global medical concern. Despite major advances in understanding the mechanisms of M. leprae entry into peripheral nerves, most aspects of the pathogenesis of leprosy neuropathy remain poorly understood. Sensory loss is characteristic of leprosy, but neuropathic pain is sometimes observed. Effective anti-microbial therapy is available, but neuropathy remains a problem especially if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. Currently there is intense interest in post-exposure prophylaxis with single-dose rifampin in endemic areas, as well as with enhanced prophylactic regimens in some situations. Some degree of nerve involvement is seen in all cases and neuritis may occur in the absence of leprosy reactions, but acute neuritis commonly accompanies both Type 1 and Type 2 leprosy reactions and may be difficult to manage. A variety of established as well as new methods for the early diagnosis and assessment of leprosy neuropathy are reviewed. Corticosteroids offer the primary treatment for neuritis and for subclinical neuropathy in leprosy, but success is limited if nerve function impairment is present at the time of diagnosis. A candidate vaccine has shown apparent benefit in preventing nerve injury in the armadillo model. The development of new therapeutics for leprosy neuropathy is greatly needed.

Infections of the Peripheral Nervous System

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article describes infections that affect the peripheral nervous system, including their clinical features, differential diagnoses, and treatments.

RECENT FINDINGS

Rates of pyomyositis have increased recently in the United States, possibly because of an increase in risk factors such as IV drug use, obesity, and diabetes. Other peripheral nervous system infections, such as diphtheria, have become more common in older patients secondary to a lack of revaccination or waning immunity. Although recommended treatment regimens for most infections remain unchanged over recent years, debate over the ideal dosing and route of administration continues for some infections such as tetanus and leprosy (Hansen disease).

SUMMARY

Infections of the peripheral nervous system are varied in terms of the type of infection, localization, and potential treatment. Nerve conduction studies and EMG can help determine localization, which is key to determining an initial differential diagnosis. It is important to recognize infections quickly to minimize diagnostic delays that could lead to patient morbidity and mortality.

Neuropathies of leprosy

Neuropathies form an integral part of the symptomatology of leprosy. Neuropathies of leprosy take various forms and shapes. At one end is the cutaneous nerve involvement adjacent to the anaesthetic skin patch and the other is of symmetrical pansensory neuropathy and the devastating sensory ataxia of leprous ganglionits. Lepra reactions add to the spectrum. Hosts immunological status largely decides the clinical manifestations seen in nerves and skin. A wide array of diagnostic techniques like ultrasonography, magnetic resonance neurography, serological markers, molecular tests, skin biopsy and in selected cases, the nerve biopsy with special stains and electron microscopy are obtainable to help the clinical diagnosis. The unsuspecting clinician, lack of community awareness and limited availability of diagnostic tests are important adverse factors in the total outcome. Multi drug therapy is efficacious and corticosteroids reduce the impact of nerve damage in leprosy. The efficacy, dose and duration of corticosteroid therapy are presently inexact and other immune suppressants like azathioprine are being evaluated. Chronic disabilities and residual deficits require attention of multiple specialties. In the coming time, focus on prevention could lead to favourable results. This review will discuss the classification systems, common and uncommon clinical features, diagnostic armamentarium and therapeutic and preventive aspects of neuropathies of leprosy.

Ocular leprosy: from bench to bedside

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Ocular manifestations of leprosy do occur despite advances in the areas of leprosy research. Understanding the nuances in the domain shall guide the clinician for effective patient-centered care.

RECENT FINDINGS

Despite the existence of microbiologic cure for leprosy, ocular manifestations of this disease do occur. Advances in genetic and genomic studies have better characterized the interaction that the bacteria has with the host. The ocular features vary with the spectrum of the disease. Its careful correlation can help to predict the bacillary load of the patient. Investigations are particularly relevant in multibacillary cases. The WHO suggests a treatment duration longer than the 2 years in ocular involvement.

SUMMARY

The isolation of lepra bacilli from the iris biopsy in negative skin smear patients and multidrug therapy completion highlights the potential role of bactericidal agents in the planned intraocular treatment. Lepra reactions need careful titration of oral steroids and appropriate antibacterial agents. Advances in phacoemulsification with in the bag implantation of intraocular lenses is a game changer in the management of the most common cause of blindness of leprosy. Advances in vaccine research in leprosy are promising.

Chronic aspects of leprosy-neglected but important

The chronic aspects of leprosy are discussed here. They are a consequence of the peripheral nerve damage that affects many patients during their lifetime with leprosy. The peripheral nerve damage leaves people unable to feel and with weakness in their hands and feet. They are at risk of damaging their hands and feet, causing the disabilities and deformities that characterise late leprosy. More than 200 000 new leprosy patients are diagnosed globally each year. Better data are needed from cohort studies to estimate the number of patients developing nerve damage and modelling studies are needed to estimate the number of patients who develop disabilities. For some of them, this will be a lifelong disability. Nerve damage is caused by inflammation in leprosy-affected nerves. Patients with nerve damage of <6-mo duration need treatment with steroids. About 66% of multibacillary patients will develop nerve damage. Plastic graded monofilaments can be used to detect nerve damage in leprosy and diabetic clinics. Assessing nerve damage and treating patients with steroids in leprosy programmes needs to be strengthened. The World Health Organization has a successful programme for supplying antibiotics for treating leprosy infection to national leprosy programmes. They should take responsibility for providing steroids to national programmes since this is a core part of the treatment for >66% of multibacillary patients. Patients need to be asked about neuropathic pain symptoms and treated if necessary. Treated leprosy patients are at risk of developing ulcers in their feet. Treatment and prevention needs to be improved through health education, providing protective footwear and patient empowerment.

Leprosy: Treatment and management of complications

In the second article in this continuing medical education series, we review the treatment of leprosy, its immunologic reactions, and important concepts, including disease relapse and drug resistance. A fundamental understanding of the treatment options and management of neuropathic sequelae are essential to reduce disease burden and improve patients' quality of life.

Glucocorticoids in Leprosy Reversal reaction

Leprosy is a disease that is caused by Mycobacterium leprae which results in lots of disabilities in the patients. Leprosy is treated by multi-drug therapy regimen; however, this therapy might cause leprosy reactions in the patients. There are several types of lepromatous reaction: type 1 reaction, type 2 reaction and neuritis. Type 1 reaction mainly occurs in BB, BL and BT forms of leprosy and is characterized by exacerbation of preexisting lesions. The therapy of this reaction according to the WHO guideline is corticosteroid therapy. This article will explain several key points related to the corticosteroid therapy in leprosy reversal reactions, including the side effects and alternative therapies available.

Peripheral nerve abnormality in HIV leprosy patients

BACKGROUND

The geographical overlap of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and leprosy infection has become increasingly frequent and worrying, bringing many clinical issues. Peripheral neuropathy is very frequent in leprosy because of the predilection of its etiologic agent by Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system, and it also affects individuals with HIV as one of the most common neurological manifestations.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

The present study compared a cohort of 63 patients diagnosed with leprosy and coinfected with HIV with a cohort of 64 patients with leprosy alone, who were followed at the outpatient clinic of the Nucleus of Tropical Medicine of the Federal University of Pará, Brazil. We observed that HIV-coinfected leprosy patients presented greater odds of overall peripheral nerve damage (nerve function impairment-NFI) than patients with leprosy alone. More sensitive damage was observed, especially in patients coinfected with multibacillary forms. Leprosy patients coinfected with HIV presented higher chances of motor damage with improvement over time using multidrug therapy (MDT) and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), along with a greater extent of damage and occurrence of neuritis. The data suggest that in addition to patients presenting possible damage caused by leprosy, they also had a greater damage gradient attributable to HIV disease, but not related to HAART because most of these patients had been on the treatment for less than a year. Neuritis was treated with prednisone at doses recommended by the WHO, and coinfected patients had the highest rate of clinical improvement in the first 60 days.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

The clinical characteristics of the two diseases should be considered in leprosy patients coinfected with HIV for better diagnosis and treatment of peripheral neuropathy. We suggest that new simplified assessment tools that allow the evaluation of the NFI of these patients be developed for use in the service.