The Hoffmann reflex of the soleus muscle. A study in leprosy.

The H reflex of the soleus muscle was used to investigate the monosynaptic reflex arc of two groups of leprosy patients compared with a similar group of normal subjects. The H reflex recordings show two abnormalities: (1) An increase in the latency of the reflex without difference between lepromatous and borderline patients. (2) A decrease of the Hmax:Mmax amplitude ratio more pronounced in the lepromatous group. The discrepancy between these results and the commonly described preservation of the deep tendon reflexes in leprosy is discussed and the hypothesis that leprosy neuropathy would affect all nerve trunks related to blood vessel changes in suggested.