Abstract Introduction: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are described in individuals with leprosy without the clinical features of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), a condition involving thromboembolic phenomena. We have described the persistence of these antibodies for over 5 years in patients with leprosy after specific treatment. Objectives: To determine whether epidemiological, clinical and immunological factors played a role in the longterm persistence of aPL antibodies in leprosy patients after multidrug therapy (MDT) had finished. Methods: The study sample consisted of 38 patients with a diagnosis of leprosy being followed up at the Dermatology and Venereology Outpatient Department at the Alfredo da Matta Foundation (FUAM) in Manaus, AM. ELISA was used to detect anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-β2 glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) antibodies. Patients were reassessed on average of 5 years after specific treatment for the disease (MDT) had been completed. Results: Persistence of aPL antibodies among the 38 leprosy patients was 84% (32/38), and all had the IgM isotype. Mean age was 48.1 ± 15.9 years, and 23 (72.0%) were male. The lepromatous form (LL) of leprosy was the most common (n = 16, 50%). Reactional episodes were observed in three patients (9.4%). Eighteen (47.37%) were still taking medication (prednisone and/or thalidomide). Mean IgM levels were 64 U/mL for aCL and 62 U/mL for anti-β2GPI. In the multivariate binary logistic regression the following variables showed a significant association: age (p = 0.045, OR = 0.91 and CI 95% 0.82-0.98), LL clinical presention (p = 0.034; OR = 0.02 and CI 95% = 0.0-0.76) and bacterial index (p = 0.044; OR = 2.74 and CI 95% = 1.03-7.33). We did not find association between prednisone or thalidomide doses and positivity for aPL (p = 0.504 and p = 0.670, respectively). No differences in the variables vascular thrombosis, pregnancy morbidity, diabetes, smoking and alcoholism were found between aPL-positive and aPL-negative patients. Conclusion: Persistence of positivity for aPL antibodies was influenced by age, clinical presentation and bacterial index. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the reason for this persistence, the role played by aPL antibodies in the disease and the B cell lineages responsible for generation of these antibodies.

Os autores alertam para o múltiplo espectro de apresentação clínica da hanseníase, destacando as lesões cutâneas necrosantes e manifestações articulares simulando doenças reumáticas, confundindo o diagnóstico e o tratamento correto. Nesses aspectos, são relatados dois casos do sexo feminino com hanseníase virchowiana e dimorfa cujas manifestações iniciais foram de lesões eritêmato-violáceas, necróticas e ulceradas, livedo reticular, oligoartrite, poliartralgias, mialgias e edema de membros inferiores, que mimetizaram algumas doenças reumáticas como o lúpus eritematoso sistêmico e a vasculite sistêmica (poliarterite nodosa).

Leprosy has a large spectrum of clinical manifestations, including necrotizing skin lesions and joint complaints that sometimes mimic a primary rheumatic disease, confounding the correct diagnosis and treatment. Herein, the authors report two cases of women with leprosy, respectively virchowian and dimorphic forms, presenting initially with purple-reddish skin lesions, evolving with necrosis and ulceration, livedo reticularis, joint pain, oligoarthritis, myalgia, and leg edema. The differential diagnosis with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic vasculitis such as polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is discussed.

Na hanseníase, lesões ósseas por invasão direta do bacilo são de baixa incidência, e os achados radiológicos destas lesões são de osteomielite aguda ou crônica similares aos de outras infecções granulomatosas. As lesões ósseas mais comuns são devidas ao trauma e a infecção secundária nos tecidos denervados. Radiograficamente, são observados vários graus de reabsorção das extremidades distais envolvendo mãos e pés, ocasionando perda dos dígitos e osteoartropatia neuropática de pequenas articulações. Os achados radiológicos são semelhantes às outras condições nas quais há déficit sensorial, como esclerodermia, siringomielia e diabetes mellitus. A ultra-sonografia (US) e a ressonância magnética (RM) podem ser úteis na avaliação do comprometimento dos nervos periféricos auxiliando no diagnóstico das neurites, abscessos e no diagnóstico diferencial das síndromes compressivas.

In leprosy, bone lesions due direct invasion of bacilli are low in incidence and these lesions exhibit radiologic findings of acute and chronic osteomyelitis similar to those of other granulomatous infectious agents. The more common bone lesions are those due to injurious effects of trauma and infection imposed upon denervated tissues. Radiographycally are seen various degrees of reabsorption of the extremities involving hands and feet with the loss of digits and disorganizing arthropathies in small joints. The radiologic appearance are similar to other conditions in which there is sensory impairment like scleroderma, syringomielia and diabetes mellitus. The ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be helpful in evaluation of the involvement of the peripheral nerves helping in the diagnosis of the neuritis, abscess and differential diagnosis in compressive syndromes.

Os antiinflamatórios não-esteroidais (AINEs) orais são eficazes no alívio da dor na osteoartrite (OA), porém têm o risco de efeitos adversos sistêmicos. Para diminuir a toxicidade é necessário reduzir a concentração plasmática uma vez que os efeitos adversos são dose-dependentes. Os AINEs de uso tópico, em teoria, alcançam altas concentrações nos tecidos-alvo com concentrações plasmáticas baixas, sendo portanto uma alternativa terapêutica, especialmente para pacientes de risco. Nossa revisão dos ensaios clínicos randomizados mostrou que os AINEs tópicos foram mais efetivos que o placebo e tão eficazes quanto os AINEs orais. Porém, o pequeno número de ensaios e falhas na metodologia nos impossibilita de fazer conclusões definitivas, sendo necessários estudos bem desenhados e de maior duração.

Oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatories drugs (NSAIDs) are effective in pain relief in osteoarthritis (OA), but are also associated with risks of adverse systemic side effects. In order to reduce its toxicity, it would be desirable to decrease the plasmatic levels of NSAIDs since those side effects are dose-dependent. Topical NSAIDs would be a therapeutic alternative in theory, because while they reach high levels in local tissues, they also produce low plasmatic levels. Our review analyzed clinical randomized and shown that topical NSAIDs were superior to placebo and have similar efficacy to oral NSAIDs, but due a few number of trials and methodological weaknesses we can't make definitive conclusions. Further well designed, long term studies are required.