Sensitivity and specificity of traditional testing methods to detect sensory impairment in the skin lesions of leprosy compared to Semmes–Weinstein monofilaments

摘要

Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of traditional testing methods to detect sensory deficit in the skin lesions of leprosy in comparison to Semmes Weinstein (SW) nylon monofilaments. Design: After ethical clearance and written informed consent from study subjects, a consecutive series of 50 patients aged 12 years with leprosy skin lesions, who attended our institution, were evaluated in this cross sectional study. Results: 74 skin lesions of 50 patients were evaluated. Considering the monofilament test result as the gold standard, the sensitivity to detect sensory impairment was 95.9% for the ballpoint pen, 97.3% for a sterile needle and 100% for cotton wool, and cold and warm water. Limitation: Paucity of cases in the lepromatous spectrum of disease and the probable absence of early lesions of disease in the study group were the study limitations. Conclusions: The cotton wool and ballpoint pen methods are easy to perform in the field and have comparable sensitivity and specificity to the blue Semmes Weinstein nylon monofilament to detect sensory impairment in skin lesions, especially in tuberculoid cases.