Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30870498›Full record

Observational studyPloS one2019

Evaluation of the cutaneous sensation of the face in patients with different clinical forms of leprosy.

Marlice Fernandes de Oliveira, Douglas Eulálio Antunes, Diogo Fernandes Dos Santos, Isabela Maria Bernardes Goulart

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Marlice Fernandes de OliveiraPostgraduate Program on Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Douglas Eulálio AntunesPostgraduate Program on Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0001-8091-7158
Diogo Fernandes Dos SantosNational Reference Center for Sanitary Dermatology and Leprosy, University Hospital, School of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Isabela Maria Bernardes GoulartPostgraduate Program on Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0003-2319-3223

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLeprosy can be considered to be the most common peripheral neuropathy of infectious etiology and constitutes a public health problem. The standard routine examination for assessing sensory impairment in leprosy neuropathy basically evaluates hands, feet and eyes. However, evaluation of facial cutaneous sensation is not routinely performed.

objectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate facial cutaneous sensation in patients with different clinical forms of leprosy and compare the findings with those from healthy individuals. METHODOLOGY: 19 healthy controls and 71 leprosy patients who were being treated at a national reference center for leprosy in Brazil underwent facial sensation assessment using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test. This test was applied over the facial areas corresponding to the ophthalmic, maxillary and mandibular distal branches of the trigeminal nerve.

resultsThe predominant clinical form in terms of changes to facial cutaneous sensation was lepromatous leprosy (LL), followed by the borderline-borderline (BB), and borderline-lepromatous (BL) forms, in comparison with healthy individuals. The distal branches most affected were the zygomatic (28.2%; 20/71), buccal (23.9%; 17/71) and nasal (22.5%; 16/71). There was asymmetrical sensory impairment of the face in 62.5% (20/32) of the cases.

conclusionThe face is just as impaired in leprosy as are the feet, hands and eyes, but facial impairment is underdiagnosed. Our evaluation on the different sensory branches and evidence of asymmetrical impairment of the face confirm the classically described pattern of leprosy neuropathy, i.e. consisting of asymmetrical and predominantly sensory peripheral neuropathy.

Indexed as

AdultBrazilCase-Control StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFaceFemaleHumansIncidenceLeprosyMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisSensation DisordersYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID30870498
PMCPMC6417732

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.