Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31456174›Full record

ArticleInfection2019

Report on an unusual case of leprosy from Germany: just an exception of the rule?

Malkin Saar, Ingrid Hanus, Kristina Huber, Marcus Beissner, Thomas Löscher, Gisela Bretzel

Abstract readCase Reports
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Infection, 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. A rare case of lepromatous leprosy in Germany.Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG · 2025
    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

6 authors.

Malkin SaarDivision of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Leopoldstrasse 5, 80802, Munich, Germany. Malkin.Saar@lrz.uni-muenchen.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8027-1892
Ingrid HanusDivision of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Leopoldstrasse 5, 80802, Munich, Germany.
Kristina HuberDivision of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Leopoldstrasse 5, 80802, Munich, Germany.
Marcus BeissnerDivision of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Leopoldstrasse 5, 80802, Munich, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9238-2998
Thomas LöscherLudwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80337, Munich, Germany.
Gisela BretzelDivision of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Leopoldstrasse 5, 80802, Munich, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

case presentationWe report on a German leprosy patient originating from Pakistan who had a relapse more than 5 years after completion of multi-drug therapy (MDT) of his first episode of multibacillary (MB) leprosy. State-of-the-art laboratory techniques (histopathology, PGL-I serology, microscopy and DNA/RNA qPCR) were applied for laboratory confirmation and monitoring of treatment outcome. Serology indicated the relapse long before the presence of unambiguous clinical signs. At the time of diagnosis of the relapse the patient had a remarkably high bacterial load suggesting increased risk for a second relapse. Furthermore, unexpectedly prolonged excretion of viable bacilli through the upper respiratory tract for more than 3 months after onset of MDT was shown. Therefore, MDT was administered for 2 years. DISCUSSION AND

conclusionsThe clinical course of the patient, as well as the prolonged excretion of viable bacilli, underlines the usefulness of laboratory assessment. Laboratory tools including up-to-date molecular assays facilitate rapid diagnosis, timely MDT, identification of individuals excreting viable bacilli and patients at risk for relapses, monitoring of treatment outcome and respective adaptation of treatment where appropriate.

Indexed as

Secondary PreventionAdultDrug Therapy, CombinationGermanyHumansLeprosyMalePakistanRecurrenceTreatment OutcomeCase reportDNA/RNA qPCRMicroscopyMultibacillary leprosyPGL-I serologyRelapse

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.