Renal involvement in leprosy: retrospective analysis of 461 cases in Brazil



Document title: Renal involvement in leprosy: retrospective analysis of 461 cases in Brazil
Journal: The brazilian journal of infectious diseases
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000291021
ISSN: 1413-8670
Authors: 1
2
Institutions: 1Universidade Federal do Ceara, Faculdade de Medicina, Fortaleza, Ceara. Brasil
2Universidade Federal do Ceara, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Fortaleza, Ceara. Brasil
Year:
Season: Abr
Volumen: 10
Number: 2
Pages: 107-112
Country: Brasil
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Caso clínico
English abstract Renal lesions in leprosy have been extensively described, including amyloidosis, glomerulonephritis, nephrosclerosis, tubulointerstitial nephritis and granulomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was designed to detect renal function abnormalities in 461 leprosy patients, without any co-morbidity, seen in a university hospital in northeast Brazil. The laboratory test results concerning renal function were examined in the patients' medical records. RESULTS: The mean age was 39 ± 18 years and 217 (47%) were male. The mean duration of disease was 21 ± 38 months. Levels of creatinine above 1.4mg/dL had been detected in 40 patients (8.6%). The levels of creatinine and urea were higher in lepromatous leprosy patients. Proteinuria, hematuria and hemoglobinuria were significantly more frequent in this presentation of leprosy. Nephrotic levels of proteinuria (>3.5mg/dL) were found in three (2.1%) of 138 lepromatous leprosy patients. A positive association was found between duration of disease and high levels of creatinine in the general sample and in the lepromatous leprosy patients. There was no association between time of treatment and high levels of creatinine. CONCLUSION: Renal involvement in leprosy seems to be related to the quantity of bacilli present in the body. It is important to evaluate the renal function in all leprosy patients in order to detect any abnormality and prevent renal failure, which is still a potential cause of death in this disease
Disciplines: Medicina
Keyword: Fisiología humana,
Nefrología,
Lepra lepromatosa,
Riñones,
Insuficiencia renal
Keyword: Medicine,
Human physiology,
Nephrology,
Lepromatous leprosy,
Kidneys,
Renal failure
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