Nasal leprosy: impact of multitherapy in the morphology and physiology of the nose

The multi-drug therapy protocol has allowed leprosy patients following this strategy to achieve complete recovery without developing neurotrophic sequelae or deformities. To assess the impact of multi-drug therapy on the development of nasal deformities and nasal airway patency. In an overall group of 84 patients studied, 38 were treated with a therapy based on a single drug and 22 were treated with multi-drug while 24 subjects formed a control group. Nose morphology was determined by anterior rhinoscopy. Nasal patency and flow resistances were measured by anterior rhinomanometry. The results were compared by using the Anova test for a single variable. The nasal structures in the group with therapy based on a single drug underwent resorption of bone and cartilage in the structures of the nose and increased flow resistance. In the group receiving the multi-drug protocol, there were no significant morphological alterations and nasal patency and flow resistance remained within normal levels. The multi-drug therapy is effective in preventing the development of nasal deformities and maintains normal nasal airflow.