Rev Neurol France
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Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic, infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Bacilli localize preferentially in the skin and peripheral nerves and have a propensity to cause nerve damage. The resulting disability has caused great suffering for victims in many countries. ⋯ However, nerves are often functionally impaired before developing obvious symptoms such as skin reactions or nevralgia (silent neuropathy). Early recognition and prompt treatment with corticosteroids of leprous reactions and "silent neuropathies" is very important to prevent disability with all its attendant problems. Research progress from clinical trials may improve current methods of prevention and treatment of nerve damage in leprosy.
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Obstructive sleep apnea is common and considered to be a risk factor for hypertension, stroke and coronary disease. Accordingly, the presence of sleep apnea is probably a predictor of premature death. Continuous positive airway pressure is an effective treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. ⋯ When the 52 patients with an associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in 1 s/vital capacity<0.65) with obstructive sleep apnea were excluded form analysis, mortality of the 244 remailing patients was 2% at 5 years, a rate observed in the general population. Subsequently, it appears that nasal continuous positive airway pressure corrects for the risk of premature death suspected in obstructive sleep apnea patients. Mortality in obstructive sleep apnea patients treated with continuous positive airway pressure is near to that of the general population, particularly when patients with an associated chronic respiratory disease are excluded.
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Not uncommonly, damage to the nervous system occurs as a complication of antineoplastic therapy. Neurotoxicity can be induced by synergistic or additive effects of cytotoxic treatments and nervous system exposure is related to routes and doses. Improvements in treating systemic malignancy have been accompanied by reports of neurologic toxicity that has important impact on quality of life and may even limit use of the treatment. ⋯ It points out the need for continuous clinical evaluation to detect their appearance. When neurological complications are diagnosed late, they are rarely reversible. Neuroprotective agents are still under evaluation.