Could leprosy reaction episodes be exacerbated by oral infections?

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Ana Carolina Fragoso Motta, Renata Bazan Furini, João Carlos Lopes Simão, Mariana Bellini Vieira, Maria Aparecida Nunes Ferreira, Marilena Chinali Komesu, Norma Tiraboschi Foss
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2011
• Subjects: Episódios reacionais da hanseníase; Infecções orais; Marcadores inflamatórios; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822011000500022; https://doaj.org/article/89b1594cbfbe4027a6a72a91c9110ebb

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated whether leprosy reactions could be associated with oral infection. METHODS: Leprosy patients (n = 38) with (Group I) and without (Group II) oral infections were selected. Reactions were identified from the clinical and histopathological features associated with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and10kDa interferon-gamma-induced protein (IP-10) levels, determined before and after elimination of the foci of infection. RESULTS: Group I presented more reactions than group II did, and improvement of the reactions after dental treatment. Serum CRP and IP-10 did not differ before and after the dental treatment, but differed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Oral infection could be an exacerbating factor in leprosy reactions.