ABSTRACT The study aimed to analyze the impact of health interventions carried out in the city of Palmas, Brazil, on the epidemiological and operational indicators of leprosy between 2007 and 2017. The intervention consisted of training healthcare personnel on the diagnosis and follow-up of patients and organizing the referral of patients to health units. Estimates of the impact were calculated by taking the differences between indicators reported in two equal periods of 1.5 years pre- and post-intervention, with a transition period of six months. During the study period, the database contained 1,875 notifications, with 66% of cases diagnosed in the post-intervention period. There was a predominance of males (52%); aged 50 years or more (34.9%); with mixed ethnicity (63.5%). The low level of education was noticeable, with more than half of the cases (51.7%) reporting illiteracy or ≤ 7 years of education. The intervention resulted in an increase in both, epidemiological and operational indicators, suggesting a positive impact of the intervention on leprosy detection and treatment. Our results also emphasize the need for further studies addressing the impact of pragmatic health interventions aiming at controlling and eliminating the disease.

Resumo: O projeto Palmas Livre da Hanseníase foi implementado para o incremento dos indicadores e o enfrentamento da doença, visto que a capital do Tocantins é a mais hiperendêmica do país. Este estudo mede o impacto da intervenção do projeto por meio da análise da tendência de indicadores prioritários em Palmas, 2002-2016. Baseia-se em análise de dados advindos do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) e de relatórios de capacitações aplicadas com metodologia de problematização. Os indicadores dos casos novos de hanseníase residentes em Palmas foram investigados, e suas tendências foram identificadas por análise de regressão joinpoint para avaliação dos resultados. No ano de implementação do projeto de intervenção (2016), o coeficiente de detecção de casos novos na população geral foi de 236,3/100 mil habitantes, e esse indicador apresentava decréscimo significativo de -7,5% no período de 2002 a 2014. Nos anos entre 2014 e 2016, houve aumento significativo de 104,6% para a detecção geral. O coeficiente de detecção em menores de 15 anos também apresentava queda de -4,6%, mas nos anos de 2014, 2015 e 2016, houve aumento de 111,1%, juntamente com os coeficientes de detecção de casos com grau 0, 1 e 2, com 59,3%, 225,2% e 121,7%, respectivamente. A proporção de casos detectados por avaliação de contatos teve acréscimo significativo de 201,1% no período de 2014 a 2016. Os dados comprovaram a efetividade e potencialidade da estratégia de intervenção do projeto para as ações de diagnóstico e controle da hanseníase em Palmas. Trouxe evidências de que a agilidade diagnóstica dos serviços de atenção primária resulta em indicadores que refletem a incidência real de casos.

Abstract: The project Palmas Free of Leprosy was implemented to improve indicators and deal with the disease, since the capital of Tocantins State is the most hyperendemic state capital in Brazil. This study measures the impact of the project’s intervention through trend analysis of the priority indicators in Palmas, from 2002 to 2016. The study was based on an analysis of data from the Brazilian Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN) and reports of applied training courses with problem-solving methodology. The indicators for new leprosy cases in Palmas residents were investigated, and the trends were identified by joinpoint regression analysis to assess the results. In the year the intervention project was implemented (2016), the detection rate for new cases in the overall population was 236.3/100,000 inhabitants, and this indicator showed a significant decrease of -7.5% from 2002 to 2014. From 2014 to 2016, there was a significant increase of 104.6% in overall detection. The detection rate in individuals under 15 years of age also showed a reduction of -4.6%, but in the years 2014, 2015, and 2016 there was an increase of 111.1%, together with detection rates for grades 0, 1, and 2, with 59.3%, 225.2%, and 121.7%, respectively. The proportion of cases detected by contact assessment showed a significant increase of 201.1% from 2014 to 2016. The data proved the effectiveness and potentiality of the project’s intervention strategy for the diagnosis and control of leprosy in Palmas. The study provided evidence that timely diagnosis by primary care services results in indicators that reflect the real incidence of cases.

Resumen: El proyecto Palmas Libre de Hanseniasis se implementó para el incremento de indicadores y combate a la enfermedad, dado que la capital de Tocantins es la más hiperendémica de Brasil. Este estudio mide el impacto de la intervención del proyecto, mediante el análisis de la tendencia de indicadores prioritarios en Palmas, 2002-2016. Se basa en un análisis de datos procedentes del Sistema de Información sobre Enfermedades de Notificación Obligatoria (SINAN por sus siglas en portugués) y de informes de capacitaciones, aplicadas con metodología de problematización. Se investigaron los indicadores de casos nuevos de hanseniasis, en residentes de Palmas, y se identificaron sus tendencias mediante análisis de regresión joinpoint para la evaluación de los resultados. En el año de implementación del proyecto de intervención (2016), el coeficiente de detección de casos nuevos en la población general fue de 236,3/100 mil habitantes, y ese indicador presentaba una disminución significativa de un -7,5%, durante el período de 2002 a 2014. Entre los años de 2014 a 2016, hubo un aumento significativo de un 104,6% en la detección general. El coeficiente de detección en menores de 15 años también presentaba una bajada de -4,6%, pero durante los años de 2014, 2015 y 2016, hubo un aumento de 111,1%, junto a los coeficientes de detección de casos con grado 0, 1 y 2, con un 59,3%, 225,2% y 121,7%, respectivamente. La proporción de casos detectados por la evaluación de contactos tuvo un aumento significativo de un 201,1%, durante el período de 2014 a 2016. Los datos comprobaron la efectividad y potencialidad de la estrategia de intervención del proyecto para las acciones de diagnóstico y control de la hanseniasis en Palmas. Hubo evidencias de que la agilidad diagnóstica de los servicios de atención primaria se traduce en indicadores que reflejan la incidencia real de casos.

Resumo: O projeto Palmas Livre da Hanseníase foi implementado para o incremento dos indicadores e o enfrentamento da doença, visto que a capital do Tocantins é a mais hiperendêmica do país. Este estudo mede o impacto da intervenção do projeto por meio da análise da tendência de indicadores prioritários em Palmas, 2002-2016. Baseia-se em análise de dados advindos do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) e de relatórios de capacitações aplicadas com metodologia de problematização. Os indicadores dos casos novos de hanseníase residentes em Palmas foram investigados, e suas tendências foram identificadas por análise de regressão joinpoint para avaliação dos resultados. No ano de implementação do projeto de intervenção (2016), o coeficiente de detecção de casos novos na população geral foi de 236,3/100 mil habitantes, e esse indicador apresentava decréscimo significativo de -7,5% no período de 2002 a 2014. Nos anos entre 2014 e 2016, houve aumento significativo de 104,6% para a detecção geral. O coeficiente de detecção em menores de 15 anos também apresentava queda de -4,6%, mas nos anos de 2014, 2015 e 2016, houve aumento de 111,1%, juntamente com os coeficientes de detecção de casos com grau 0, 1 e 2, com 59,3%, 225,2% e 121,7%, respectivamente. A proporção de casos detectados por avaliação de contatos teve acréscimo significativo de 201,1% no período de 2014 a 2016. Os dados comprovaram a efetividade e potencialidade da estratégia de intervenção do projeto para as ações de diagnóstico e controle da hanseníase em Palmas. Trouxe evidências de que a agilidade diagnóstica dos serviços de atenção primária resulta em indicadores que refletem a incidência real de casos.

Abstract: The project Palmas Free of Leprosy was implemented to improve indicators and deal with the disease, since the capital of Tocantins State is the most hyperendemic state capital in Brazil. This study measures the impact of the project’s intervention through trend analysis of the priority indicators in Palmas, from 2002 to 2016. The study was based on an analysis of data from the Brazilian Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN) and reports of applied training courses with problem-solving methodology. The indicators for new leprosy cases in Palmas residents were investigated, and the trends were identified by joinpoint regression analysis to assess the results. In the year the intervention project was implemented (2016), the detection rate for new cases in the overall population was 236.3/100,000 inhabitants, and this indicator showed a significant decrease of -7.5% from 2002 to 2014. From 2014 to 2016, there was a significant increase of 104.6% in overall detection. The detection rate in individuals under 15 years of age also showed a reduction of -4.6%, but in the years 2014, 2015, and 2016 there was an increase of 111.1%, together with detection rates for grades 0, 1, and 2, with 59.3%, 225.2%, and 121.7%, respectively. The proportion of cases detected by contact assessment showed a significant increase of 201.1% from 2014 to 2016. The data proved the effectiveness and potentiality of the project’s intervention strategy for the diagnosis and control of leprosy in Palmas. The study provided evidence that timely diagnosis by primary care services results in indicators that reflect the real incidence of cases.

Resumen: El proyecto Palmas Libre de Hanseniasis se implementó para el incremento de indicadores y combate a la enfermedad, dado que la capital de Tocantins es la más hiperendémica de Brasil. Este estudio mide el impacto de la intervención del proyecto, mediante el análisis de la tendencia de indicadores prioritarios en Palmas, 2002-2016. Se basa en un análisis de datos procedentes del Sistema de Información sobre Enfermedades de Notificación Obligatoria (SINAN por sus siglas en portugués) y de informes de capacitaciones, aplicadas con metodología de problematización. Se investigaron los indicadores de casos nuevos de hanseniasis, en residentes de Palmas, y se identificaron sus tendencias mediante análisis de regresión joinpoint para la evaluación de los resultados. En el año de implementación del proyecto de intervención (2016), el coeficiente de detección de casos nuevos en la población general fue de 236,3/100 mil habitantes, y ese indicador presentaba una disminución significativa de un -7,5%, durante el período de 2002 a 2014. Entre los años de 2014 a 2016, hubo un aumento significativo de un 104,6% en la detección general. El coeficiente de detección en menores de 15 años también presentaba una bajada de -4,6%, pero durante los años de 2014, 2015 y 2016, hubo un aumento de 111,1%, junto a los coeficientes de detección de casos con grado 0, 1 y 2, con un 59,3%, 225,2% y 121,7%, respectivamente. La proporción de casos detectados por la evaluación de contactos tuvo un aumento significativo de un 201,1%, durante el período de 2014 a 2016. Los datos comprobaron la efectividad y potencialidad de la estrategia de intervención del proyecto para las acciones de diagnóstico y control de la hanseniasis en Palmas. Hubo evidencias de que la agilidad diagnóstica de los servicios de atención primaria se traduce en indicadores que reflejan la incidencia real de casos.

Abstract Brazil has the second largest number of leprosy cases in the world; nevertheless, late diagnosis is common. We report the case of a male patient with pain and numbness in both hands and feet for six years with positive rheumatoid factor and anticardiolipin under rheumatoid arthritis treatment for five years. Examination revealed diffuse cutaneous infiltration and leonine facies, characteristic features of lepromatous leprosy. Autoantibodies such as rheumatoid factor and anticardiolipin are markers of rheumatic autoimmune diseases, but their presence is also described in leprosy. We report the present case in order to alert health professionals to remember leprosy, even in areas where the disease is considered eliminated as a public health problem, avoiding misinterpretations of serologic findings and misdiagnosis.

Abstract The "racket" lesion is a rare presentation of tuberculoid leprosy, which consists of a thickened nerve branch emerging from a tuberculoid plaque. It results from centripetal damage to cutaneous nerves caused by granuloma formation. We describe a typical case of tuberculoid leprosy presenting as a "racket" lesion. The lesion persisted after treatment with paucibacillary multidrug therapy.

Exacerbation of the immune response against Mycobacterium leprae can lead to neuritis, which is commonly treated via immunosuppression with corticosteroids. Early neurolysis may be performed concurrently, especially in young patients with a risk of functional sequelae. We report the case of a young patient experienced intense pain in the left elbow one year after the treatment of tuberculoid-tuberculoid leprosy. The pain was associated with paresthesias in the ulnar edge and left ulnar claw. After evaluation, the diagnosis was changed to borderline tuberculoid leprosy accompanied with neuritis of the left ulnar nerve. Early neurolysis resulted in rapid reduction of the pain and recovery of motor function.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is the main infectious cause of disability. It is said to be eradicated in São Paulo since 2005, but diagnosis is still late. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the social, clinical and laboratorial profile of leprosy patients diagnosed between 01/2007 and 12/2011, in a reference center in São Paulo. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study. Data of all new leprosy cases diagnosed between 01/2007 and 12/2011 were raised in São Paulo. RESULTS: 103 men and 71 women were diagnosed, most of them were multibacillary. Mean age at diagnosis was 49 yrs; 2,2% were children; 70% had incomplete primary education; 50% were referred without diagnostic suspicion of leprosy. Mean time since first symptoms/signs and diagnosis was 2 years; 64% of patients had some degree of disability, and 26% had grade 2. 23 cases were diagnosed only after being summoned, and 80% of these had no disability. Agreement between the Ridley and Jopling and the WHO classification was 75% (kappa index = 0.44). Serology for IgM anti-PGL1 (87 patients) showed a mean value of 0.25, and an association between MB classification and test positivity (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Leprosy diagnosis in São Paulo is late. The disease mainly affected the socially disadvantaged and economically active population. Failure to detect the disease (41% in the last 10 years) could be due to the lack of suspicion and to decentralization. For the classification of patients with advanced leprosy, both the WHO and R&J classifications proved to be helpful tools.

Chromoblastomycosis is one of the most frequent deep mycoses found in rural populations. This cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study was conducted with cases of chromoblastomycosis diagnosed throughout 20 years. A higher prevalence was observed among White male rural workers, with an average age of 59.69 years. Median time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 156 months. Lesions were predominantly located on the lower limbs; 34% of cases reported previous trauma. The most common associated symptoms were itching, pain and burning sensation. Mycological examination was positive in 91% of cases and Fonsecaea pedrosoi was the most prevalent etiologic agent.

BACKGROUND: American tegumentary leishmaniasis has an annual incidence of 1 to 1.5 million cases. In some cases, the patient's immune response can eliminate the parasite, and the lesion spontaneously resolves. However, when this does not occur, patients develop the disseminated form of the disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between clinical, laboratory and pathological findings in cases of American tegumentary leishmaniasis. METHODS: A retrospective study of the medical records of 47 patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis. Clinical, laboratory and epidemiological data were collected, and semi-quantitative histopathological analyses were performed using the Spearman correlation coefficient (p <0.05). RESULTS: Mean patient age was 40.5 years. A total of 29.7% individuals were female and 70.2% were male, and 40.4% of the patients were farmers. The ulcerative form was found in 53.2% of patients, of whom 59.6% had lesions in the limbs. The average time to diagnosis was 22.3 months. The following positive correlations were significant: age and duration of the disease, Montenegro reaction, degree of granulomatous transformation and epithelioid cell count; duration of disease, Montenegro reaction and number of lymphocytes; epithelial hyperplasia and edema, hemorrhaging, and epithelial aggression; number of plasmocytes and number of parasites. The main negative correlations found were as follows: age and serology; time and parasite load; epithelial hyperplasia and degree of granulomatous transformation. CONCLUSION: The long duration of the disease could be explained by the fact that lesions were relatively asymptomatic, and therefore ignored by patients with low literacy levels. Individuals may have simply waited for spontaneous healing, which proved to be dependent on the activation of hypersensitivity mechanisms.

Os autores propuseram-se a realizar uma revisão sistemática em conceitos atuais sobre a hanseníase neural primária, consultando as seguintes bases bibliográficas on-line: MEDLINE, Lilacs/SciELO e Embase. Os estudos selecionados foram classificados conforme o grau de recomendação e o nível de evidência científica de acordo com o “Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine”. Os seguintes temas foram revisados: investigações clínica e laboratorial cutâneas, ou seja, exame, esfregaço e biópsia de pele e reação de Mitsuda; investigação neurológica (anamnese, eletroneuromiografia e biópsia de nervo); investigação sorológica e testes moleculares, ou seja, testes sorológicos para detecção de um glicolipídio fenólico e reação de cadeia de polimerase (PCR) e tratamento (critérios de classificação para definição de tratamento específico, tratamento com esteroides e critérios de cura).

The authors proposed a systematic review on the current concepts of primary neural leprosy by consulting the following online databases: MEDLINE, Lilacs/SciELO, and Embase. Selected studies were classified based on the degree of recommendation and levels of scientific evidence according to the “Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine”. The following aspects were reviewed: cutaneous clinical and laboratorial investigations, i.e. skin clinical exam, smears, and biopsy, and Mitsuda's reaction; neurological investigation (anamnesis, electromyography and nerve biopsy); serological investigation and molecular testing, i.e. serological testing for the detection of the phenolic glycolipid 1 (PGL-I) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and treatment (classification criteria for the definition of specific treatment, steroid treatment, and cure criteria).

Neurotrofinas são fatores de crescimento com papel fundamental na fisiopatologia neural. Esses mediadores modulam funcionalmente fibras nociceptivas. Mudanças em sua expressão têm sido relacionadas à perda precoce da nocicepção na hanseníase. Este estudo investigou a expressão de NGF, BDNF e NT3 em nervos dérmicos de pacientes hansenianos. A caracterização de fibras nervosas não mielinizadas foi feita por p75NTR e marcadores axonais NF-L e PGP 9.5. Os parâmetros clínicos de dano neural foram avaliados por monofilamentos Semmes-Wenstein. Nossos achados demonstram diminuição de NGF nos pacientes dimorfos em comparação aos controles. Resultados similares foram observados para PGP 9.5 (dimorfos: p<0,001; virchowianos: p<0,05) e NF-L (virchowianos: p<0.05), sugerindo degeneração avançada das terminações nervosas na hanseníase multibacilar. Foi observada correlação positiva entre p75NTR e PGP 9.5, indicando associação entre células de Schwann e axônios em fibras nervosas não mielinizadas. Os resultados indicam que o desequilíbrio na expressão das neurotrofinas pode participar do dano neural periférico.

Neurotrophins are growth factors with crucial roles in neural pathophysiology. These mediators functionally modulate nociceptive fibers, and changes in neurotrophins expression have been correlated with early loss of nociception in leprosy. This study investigated the expression of NGF, BDNF, and NT3 in dermal nerves of leprosy patients. Characterization of Remak bundles was achieved by p75NTR, and axonal markers NF-L and PGP 9.5 immunostaining. Clinical parameters of neural impairment have been evaluated by Semmes-Wenstein monofilaments. Our findings demonstrated decrease of NGF in borderline leprosy, when compared to control specimens. Similar results were observed in PGP 9.5 expression (borderline: p<0.001 and lepromatous: p<0.05) and NF-L (lepromatous: p<0.05), suggesting advanced Remak bundles degeneration in multibacillary leprosy. It has also been observed positive correlation between p75NTR and PGP 9.5, indicating association between Schwann cells and axons in Remak bundles. Present data indicate that neurotrophins imbalance may participate in the establishment of peripheral nerve damage.

O presente artigo relata um caso de recidiva, com manifestação neural isolada, em paciente multibacilar previamente tratado com poliquimioterapia para multibacilar 24 doses. O paciente retorna ao serviço, seis anos depois do fim do tratamento, com dores em mãos e pernas. Na investigação, o acompanhamento da sorologia anti-glicolipídeo fenólico 1 demonstrou aumento importante dos níveis séricos, e foi aventada a hipótese de recidiva neural, já que o paciente não apresentava lesões cutâneas novas. Uma nova biópsia, em nervo ulnar direito, demonstrou baciloscopia de 2+, compatível com recidiva. Faz-se revisão da literatura sobre aspectos etiológicos, clínicos, propedêuticos e diagnósticos dessa situação tão pouco compreendida.

This article presents a case of relapse, with isolated neural manifestation, in a multibacillary patient previously treated with multidrug therapy for multibacillary leprosy (24 doses). The patient returned to the service six years after the end of treatment, with pain in hands and legs. He was investigated, and the serological monitoring showed an important increase in anti-phenolic glycolipid serum levels. A neural recurrence was suspected, since the patient had no new skin lesions. A new biopsy in the right ulnar nerve showed a bacilloscopy of 2 +, compatible with relapse. This is a literature review of the etiological, clinical, propedeutical and diagnostic aspects of this situation so poorly understood.

Lipomas são neoplasias mesenquimais benignas comuns constituídas de células gordurosas maduras que podem ou não estar envoltas por cápsula conjuntiva. A relação com o trauma já foi descrita. Aqueles envolvendo os dedos são extremamente raros, mas devem ser considerados no diagnóstico diferencial das massas benignas de tecidos moles em tal localização.

Lipomas are common benign mesenchymal tumors composed of mature fat cells that may or may not be surrounded by a thin, fibrous capsule. The link with trauma has already been described. Lipomas involving the fingers are extremely rare but must be considered in the differential diagnosis of benign soft tissue masses in this particular location.

Líquen estriado é uma erupção inflamatória incomum, de etiologia desconhecida. Raramente acomete adultos, e é caracterizada pelo surgimento abrupto de pápulas coalescentes, em arranjo linear, usualmente em extremidades. A histopatologia mostra reação liquenóide envolvendo folículos e glândulas. Ocasionalmente há sobreposição com líquen plano linear e "blaschkitis", seus principais diagnósticos diferenciais. Relata-se um caso de mulher adulta com pápulas eritematovioláceas em região cervical e hemiface direitas, cuja correlação clínico-histopatológica permitiu o diagnóstico de líquen estriado. Os achados atípicos e a dificuldade diagnóstica são discutidos.

Lichen Striatus is an uncommon inflammatory skin eruption of unknown etiology. It rarely affects adults, and it is characterized by abrupt onset of coalescent papules, in a linear disposition, usually on the extremities. Histopathology shows lichenoid reaction involving follicles and glands. Occasionally, there is overlap with linear lichen planus and "blaschkitis", the main differential diagnoses. It is reported here the case of an adult woman with erythematous violaceous papules on the right side of the neck and face, diagnosed with lichen striatus by clinical and histopathological correlation. The atypical findings and the diagnostic difficulty are discussed.