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Correlation between clinical tests and electroneuromyography for the diagnosis of leprosy neuropathy
Pedro Olavo De Paula Lima
  Pedro Olavo De Paula Lima
Affiliation
Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Ceara, Brazil
Correspondence to: Pedro Olavo de Paula Lima, Department of Physical Therapy. Permanent address: Rua Alexandre Baraúna, 949, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-110, Brazil (Tel: +55 85 33668632; Fax: +55 85 33668002; e-mail: pedrolima@ufc.br)
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a,*
Francisco Marcos Bezerra Cunha
  Francisco Marcos Bezerra Cunha
Affiliation
Dona Libania Dermatology Center, Brazil
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b
Heitor De Sá Gonçalves
  Heitor De Sá Gonçalves
Affiliation
Dona Libania Dermatology Center, Brazil
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b
Maria Araci Pontes Aires
  Maria Araci Pontes Aires
Affiliation
Dona Libania Dermatology Center, Brazil
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b
Rosa lívia Freitas De Almeida
  Rosa lívia Freitas De Almeida
Affiliation
Department of Community Health, Federal University of Ceara, Brazil
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c
Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo Kerr
  Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo Kerr
Affiliation
Department of Community Health, Federal University of Ceara, Brazil
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c
Background:

In leprosy, sensory function of nerves is evaluated with monofilaments test and the motor function with voluntary muscle test, however electroneuromyography is considered as the gold-standard tool.

 Objectives:

This study aimed: i) to evaluate the correlation between clinical tests and electroneuromyography for the diagnosis of leprosy neuropathy; and ii) to identify the prevalence of leprosy neuropathy and the most compromised peripheral nerves in leprosy.

 Methods:

We analysed the data from a nested case-control study that identified 166 patients diagnosed with leprosy neuropathy confirmed by electromyography. This study was designed for an analysis of correlation between the diagnostic tests.

 Results:

The most prevalent type of the neural damage was the sensory and motor multiple mononeuropathy, observed in 62 (37.3%) cases. The highest prevalence was the ulnar nerve in 67 (40.3%) cases. Agreement specified by nerves was moderate, ranging from k = 0.58 in the deep peroneal nerve to k = 0.41 in the posterior tibial nerve). Overall agreement between the clinical tests and electroneuromyography was very poor. Monofilaments test with k = 0.02 (95% CI 0.00 - 0.12) and voluntary muscle test with 016 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.28, P = 0.01).

 Conclusions:

There is a low to moderate correlation between clinical tests (monofilaments and voluntary muscle tests) and the electroneuromyography examination. The most prevalent type of neural impairment was the sensory and motor multiple mononeuropathy, and the most affected nerve was the ulnar.
Cite this article
Pedro Olavo De Paula Lima, Francisco Marcos Bezerra Cunha, Heitor De Sá Gonçalves, Maria Araci Pontes Aires, Rosa lívia Freitas De Almeida, Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo Kerr;
Correlation between clinical tests and electroneuromyography for the diagnosis of leprosy neuropathy; Leprosy Review; 2016; 87; 1; 60-70; DOI: 10.47276/lr.87.1.60
home.article_information

DOI: 10.47276/lr.87.1.60

articleview.journal_title: Leprosy Review
articleview.publisher: British Leprosy Relief Association
articleview.publisher_location: Colchester, UK
articleview.article_date_pre accepted on 20 January 2016 and articleview.pub_on 01 March 2016
© Lepra 2016
LEPROSY
Leprosy Review
0305-7518
British Leprosy Relief Association
Colchester, UK
06-0070
0305-7518/16/064053+11
10.47276/lr.87.1.60
Original Papers
Correlation between clinical tests and electroneuromyography for the diagnosis of leprosy neuropathy
LimaPedro Olavo De Paula
a
CunhaFrancisco Marcos Bezerra
b
GonçalvesHeitor De Sá
b
AiresMaria Araci Pontes
b
De AlmeidaRosa lívia Freitas
c
KerrLigia Regina Franco Sansigolo
c
a
Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Ceara, Brazil
b
Dona Libania Dermatology Center, Brazil
c
Department of Community Health, Federal University of Ceara, Brazil
Correspondence to: Pedro Olavo de Paula Lima, Department of Physical Therapy. Permanent address: Rua Alexandre Baraúna, 949, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-110, Brazil (Tel: +55 85 33668632; Fax: +55 85 33668002; e-mail: )
01032016
87
1
60
70
20012016
© Lepra
2016
Background:
In leprosy, sensory function of nerves is evaluated with monofilaments test and the motor function with voluntary muscle test, however electroneuromyography is considered as the gold-standard tool.
Objectives:
This study aimed: i) to evaluate the correlation between clinical tests and electroneuromyography for the diagnosis of leprosy neuropathy; and ii) to identify the prevalence of leprosy neuropathy and the most compromised peripheral nerves in leprosy.
Methods:
We analysed the data from a nested case-control study that identified 166 patients diagnosed with leprosy neuropathy confirmed by electromyography. This study was designed for an analysis of correlation between the diagnostic tests.
Results:
The most prevalent type of the neural damage was the sensory and motor multiple mononeuropathy, observed in 62 (37.3%) cases. The highest prevalence was the ulnar nerve in 67 (40.3%) cases. Agreement specified by nerves was moderate, ranging from k = 0.58 in the deep peroneal nerve to k = 0.41 in the posterior tibial nerve). Overall agreement between the clinical tests and electroneuromyography was very poor. Monofilaments test with k = 0.02 (95% CI 0.00 - 0.12) and voluntary muscle test with 016 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.28, P = 0.01).
Conclusions:
There is a low to moderate correlation between clinical tests (monofilaments and voluntary muscle tests) and the electroneuromyography examination. The most prevalent type of neural impairment was the sensory and motor multiple mononeuropathy, and the most affected nerve was the ulnar.
electrophysiological assessmentleprosyneuropathy