Duncan M Elizabeth, Hansen Stig, Tadesse Terefe, Bezuneh Elisabeth, Yassin Mohammed A, Zeleke Assefa, Solomon Abebe, Jamal Goran A, Hunegnaw Mesfin, Kazen Roland, Aseffa Abraham, Challis Andrew, Wagaye Wondu
Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ethiop Med J. 2007 Oct;45 Suppl 1:61-72.
In Ethiopia, where leprosy has been one of the commonest causes of peripheral nerve enlargement and dysfunction, nerve functions are assessed by a battery of "physical" tests. Voluntary Muscle Test (VMT) and Graded Sensory Skin Test (STG) are standard tests used for persons with leprosy. Normal values for nerve function tests (NFT) in Highland Ethiopians have not previously been determined, but have been taken from standard textbooks. In this study, normal values for NFT were determined by VMT, STG, 2-Point Discrimination Tests both static and moving, and Thermal Threshold Test. Physiological enlargement of right ulnar and radial-cutaneous nerves has been recognised by some leprologists, but we were unable to find written records in the available medical literature.
We assessed 236 students and adults aged 10-75 years from Chencha Woreda, an area with low endemicity of leprosy for 25-30 years. Two affected by leprosy were excluded from the analysis.
NFT thresholds were affected variously by age, exercise and skin factors, domicile and exposure to organo-phosphates. Nerve size was affected by age, gender, exercise, skin fold thickness, body mass index. Exercise related physiological nerve enlargement has been documented.
These data provide a usefull baseline for investigation of peripheral nerve function in highland Ethiopians.
在埃塞俄比亚，麻风病一直是导致周围神经肿大和功能障碍的最常见病因之一，神经功能通过一系列“体格”检查来评估。自愿肌肉测试（VMT）和分级感觉皮肤测试（STG）是用于麻风病患者的标准测试。此前尚未确定埃塞俄比亚高地人群神经功能测试（NFT）的正常值，一直沿用标准教科书上的数据。在本研究中，通过VMT、STG、静态和动态两点辨别测试以及热阈值测试确定了NFT的正常值。一些麻风病专家已经认识到右侧尺神经和桡神经皮支的生理性肿大，但我们在现有医学文献中未能找到相关书面记录。
我们评估了来自Chencha Woreda地区236名年龄在10至75岁之间的学生和成年人，该地区麻风病低流行率已持续25至30年。两名麻风病患者被排除在分析之外。
NFT阈值受到年龄、运动、皮肤因素、居住环境和有机磷暴露的不同影响。神经大小受到年龄、性别、运动、皮肤褶皱厚度、体重指数的影响。已记录了与运动相关的生理性神经肿大。
这些数据为埃塞俄比亚高地人群周围神经功能的研究提供了有用的基线。
