Persistent Infection Versus Type 2 Immunological Reaction in Lepromatous Leprosy.

The distinction between persistent infection and immunologic reactions in leprosy is often difficult but critically important since their management is different. We present the case of a 51-year-old Vietnamese female who presented in 2015 with areas of erythema and skin infiltration on face and chest, as well as edema on her hands and feet. Skin biopsy was consistent with lepromatous leprosy.

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.

Leprosy: Clinical aspects and diagnostic techniques.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a curable infectious disease that remains endemic in >140 countries around the world. Despite being declared "eliminated" as a global public health problem by the World Health Organization in the year 2000, approximately 200,000 new cases were reported worldwide in 2017. Widespread migration may bring leprosy to nonendemic areas, such as North America.

Case report: Hansen's disease in an active duty soldier presenting with type 1 reversal reaction.

Leprosy, or Hansen's disease (HD), is caused by the bacterium and is a significant cause of morbidity worldwide. Clinical manifestations range from isolated skin rash to severe peripheral neuropathy. Treatment involves a prolonged course of multiple antimicrobials.

Trends of leprosy and multibacillary infection in the state of Georgia since the early 1900s.

Few investigations to date have analyzed the epidemiology of Hansen's disease (leprosy) in the United States, and in particular, if birth location is related to multibacillary versus paucibacillary leprosy. We collected data on 123 patients diagnosed with leprosy in Georgia from the National Hansen's Disease Program from 1923-January 2018. A logistic regression model was built to examine the relationship between country of origin (U.

Dapsone Resistance in Leprosy Patients Originally from American Samoa, United States, 2010-2012.

Skin biopsies from US leprosy patients were tested for mutations associated with drug resistance. Dapsone resistance was found in 4 of 6 biopsies from American Samoa patients. No resistance was observed in patients from other origins.

Hansen's Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis Crossover of Clinical Symptoms: A Case Series of 18 Patients in the United States.

Hansen's Disease (HD) is a rare, chronic granulomatous infection of the skin and peripheral nerves caused by the noncultivable organism . Arthritis is the third most common symptom of HD. Subjects with both confirmed HD on skin biopsy and chronic arthritis were identified at the National Hansen's Disease Program (NHDP).

Mycobacterium lepromatosis Lepromatous Leprosy in US Citizen Who Traveled to Disease-Endemic Areas.

We report Mycobacterium lepromatosis infection in a US-born person with an extensive international travel history. Clinical symptoms, histopathology, and management are similar to those of infections caused by M. leprae.

Two Cases of Leprosy in Siblings Caused by Mycobacterium lepromatosis and Review of the Literature.

We describe two leprosy cases in Mexican siblings caused by a new species Mycobacterium lepromatosis This is likely the first report of family clustering of this infection. The patients showed severe prolonged leprosy reactions after antimicrobial treatment, raising a challenge for clinical management. The current status of M.

Indigenous Cases of Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) in Southern Mississippi.

Hansen's disease or leprosy is a chronic infection of the skin and peripheral nerves caused by Mycobacterium leprae. In the U.S.

Evaluation of multi-drug therapy for leprosy in the United States using daily rifampin.

Objectives: To evaluate the occurrence of relapse of multibacillary leprosy after multi-drug treatment including daily rifampin.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed utilizing data from the National Hansen's Disease Program (NHDP) on patients with leprosy treated and followed from 1988-1997 who received multi-drug therapy including daily rifampin. The occurrence of relapse in this cohort was measured, and demographic data and various clinical variables were also gathered.

Increased CXC ligand 10 levels and gene expression in type 1 leprosy reactions.

Type 1 reaction (T1R) is a systemic inflammatory syndrome causing substantial morbidity in leprosy. T1R results from spontaneously enhanced cellular immunity in borderline types of leprosy, but there are no established laboratory markers for the reaction. Preliminary studies have identified elevated circulating CXC ligand 10 (CXCL10) during T1R.

Hansen's disease (leprosy) complicated by secondary mycobacterial infection.

A patient with Hansen's disease received corticosteroids for a type 1 leprosy reaction and subsequently developed a new cutaneous lesion at the original biopsy site from which Mycobacterium fortuitum was cultured. A review of the literature found only two other cases of coinfection with atypical mycobacteria and Mycobacterium leprae, although there are many reports of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with leprosy. This case highlights the diagnostic difficulties encountered when a patient has two different mycobacterial infections of the skin.