1968/09/01 by R. N. Rosenberg, Roger N. Rosenberg, R. E. Lovelace +1
Medicine · #Leprosy Research and Treatment #Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
paper · doi:10.1001/archneur.1968.00480030088009
MONONEURITIS multiplex refers to involvement of several or many peripheral nerves at the same or different points in time by a disease process. It is usually asymmetric, particularly in early stages, and has been reported to occur in periarteritis nodosa,<sup>1</sup>diabetes mellitus,<sup>2</sup>and leprosy.<sup>3-7</sup> Two main types of leprosy, lepromatous and tuberculoid, have been described.<sup>3,4</sup>Low resistance in lepromatous leprosy is evidenced by a negative lepromin skin test and positive skin scrapings for acid-fast bacilli. Patients present with papular or nodular pigmented skin lesions together with slowly progressive symmetrical sensory polyneuropathy. Considerable resistance occurs in tuberculoid leprosy as indicated by a strongly positive lepromin skin test and negative skin scrapings for acid-fast bacilli. It begins with depigmented slightly erythematous skin lesions and a sudden severe asymmetric neuritis (mononeuritis multiplex). Borderline and indeterminate groups of leprosy have also been described. Electromyographic (EMG)<sup>5-7</sup>and time-intensity curve studies