Neuritis in pregnancy and lactation.

One hundred and forty-six women were studied during and after 153 pregnancies (31 healthy contacts: 34 pregnancies; 115 leprosy patients: 119 pregnancies). One healthy contact and 51 leprosy patients developed neuritis during the study period. All leprosy patients, including those who were considered to be cured and had stopped treatment, were at risk. Neuritis was accompanied by Type 1 and Type 2 lepra skin reactions and/or deterioration of the patients' leprosy status; this was particularly the case when neuritis was associated with nerve pain or tenderness (overt neuritis). Neuritis without nerve pain or tenderness (silent neuritis), preceded by the complaint of "rheumatism" and the clinical finding of enlarged peripheral nerves, was seen more frequently than overt neuritis (48:37 episodes). Insidious silent neuritis with loss of sensory and motor function during lactation was a particularly dangerous and hitherto undescribed risk of pregnancy.