Lack of wrinkle formation in the fingertips of patients with hansen's disease. Confirmation of previous observations

Jacob SHESKIN; Shabtai SABATTO; Zvi YOSIPOVITZ; Alexis ILUKEVICH

doi:10.47878/hi.1983.v8.35587

Authors

Jacob SHESKIN Prof., Dr., Department of Dermatology, Hadassah Medical School, Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
Shabtai SABATTO Prof., Dr., Department of Orthopedics, Hadassah Medical School, Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
Zvi YOSIPOVITZ Prof., Dr, Department of Orthopedics, Hadassah Medical School, Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
Alexis ILUKEVICH Professor of Veterinary School, Luz University, Maracaibo, Venezuela, (deceased).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47878/hi.1983.v8.35587

Keywords:

Hansen's Disease, Hands Wrinkle-formation, Immersion

Abstract

Immersion of a hand in water at 38 — 40°C for half an hour was performed in two phases with a one year interval in 38 patients with Hansen's disease and 20 controls. In all 20 controls wrinkles were produced. However, 32 of the 38 patients failed to show wrinkles in the fingertips. In 12, who participated in both phases, results of the second test confirmed those of the first. This may be an indication of irreversible damage. Due to the small number of individuals tested, no conclusions may be drawn in reference to groups and types of the disease. Provided that these results can be confirmed in larger groups of patients, this method could prove to be a tool in the diagnosis of Hansen's disease. Since the test is very easy to perform, it would be of great value in areas far from specialized medical centers.

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