Renal involvement in leprosy: retrospective analysis of 461 cases in Brazil

BACKGROUND: Renal lesions in leprosy have been extensively described, including amyloidosis, glomerulonephritis, nephrosclerosis, tubulointerstitial nephritis and granulomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was designed to detect renal function abnormalities in 461 leprosy patients, without any co-morbidity, seen in a university hospital in northeast Brazil. The laboratory test results concerning renal function were examined in the patients' medical records. RESULTS: The mean age was 39 ± 18 years and 217 (47%) were male. The mean duration of disease was 21 ± 38 months. Levels of...