Significance of the Local Sweat Response in the Diagnosis of Leprosy

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Abstract
Sweat response to intradermal carbachol injection was studied in hypopigmented skin lesions of 113 patients, comprising 88 with tuberculoid and 25 with dimorphous leprosy. The results were compared with contralateral controls. The sensory status of these patches prior to the test was carefully determined in each case and the patients were grouped accordingly. The sweat response was found to be significantly lowered in hypopigmented lesions. The cutaneous sensations and sweat functions were mostly corresponding. In a few cases, however, there was a demonstrable impairment of autonomic function, although the sensory functions were normal or equivocal. This method of assessment of autonomic functions, therefore, deserves a place as a diagnostic technique in leprosy.

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