Table 3. Cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements (mm2) by high-resolution ultrasonography in healthy volunteers and leprosy household contacts.
| Nerves | Healthy volunteers | Seropositive HC | Seronegative HC | p1 value | p2 value | p3 value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median (Mpt) | n | 106 | 98 | 60 | |||
| Mean ± SD | 5.97 ± 1.12 | 5.85 ± 1.14 | 5.97 ± 1.33 | >0.9999 | >0.9999 | >0.9999 | |
| Median (Q1/Q3) | 6 (5/7) | 6 (5/7) | 6 (5/7) | ||||
| 95% CI | [5.69–6.25] | [5.56–6.17] | [5.49–6.45] | ||||
| Abnormal (>9.33) | 1 (0.94%) | 0 | 1 (1.66%) | ||||
| Median (Mt) | n | 106 | 90 | 57 | |||
| Mean ± SD | 7.62 ± 1.35 | 7,18 ± 1.37 | 7,42 ± 1.28 | 0.2174 | >0.9999 | 0.4599 | |
| Median (Q1/Q3) | 7 (7/8) | 7 (6/8) | 7 (6.75/8) | ||||
| 95% CI | [7.28–7.97] | [6.83–7.58] | [6.99–7.98] | ||||
| Abnormal (>11.67) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Ulnar (Upt) | n | 106 | 98 | 60 | |||
| Mean ± SD | 4.81 ± 1.09 | 5.0 ± 1.36 | 4.56 ± 0.96 | >0.9999 | 0.8035 | 0.6542 | |
| Median (Q1/Q3) | 5 (4/6) | 5 (4/5) | 5 (4/5) | ||||
| 95% CI | [4.53–5.09] | [4.63–5.37] | [4.23–4.9] | ||||
| Abnormal (>8.08) | 0 | 2 (2.04%) | 0 | ||||
| Ulnar (Ut) | n | 106 | 98 | 60 | |||
| Mean ± SD | 5.81 ± 1.24 | 5.88 ± 1.48 | 5.55 ± 1.14 | >0.9999 | >0.9999 | >0.9999 | |
| Median (Q1/Q3) | 6 (5/7) | 6 (5/6) | 6 (5/6) | ||||
| 95% CI | [5.5–6.12] | [5.46–6.28] | [5.15–5.95] | ||||
| Abnormal (>9.53) | 0 | 2 (2.04%) | 0 | ||||
| Common Fibular | n | 106 | 97 | 60 | |||
| Mean ± SD | 12,08 ± 2,15 | 14,14 ± 4,21 | 11,7 ± 1,97 | 0.0025* | 0.8149 | 0.0002* | |
| Median (Q1/Q3) | 12 (10/14) | 13 (11.75/16) | 12 (10/13) | ||||
| 95% CI | [11.5–12.65] | [13.11–15.36] | [10.97–12.43] | ||||
| Abnormal (>18.53) | 0 | 12 (12.37%) | 0 | ||||
| Tibial (Tpt) | n | 106 | 98 | 60 | |||
| Mean ± SD | 8,47 ± 1,19 | 9,82 ± 2,66 | 8,6 ± 1,49 | 0.0003* | >0.9999 | 0.0212* | |
| Median (Q1/Q3) | 8 (8/9) | 9 (8/11) | 9 (8/10) | ||||
| 95% CI | [8.18–8.77] | [9.11–10.57] | [8.05–9.15] | ||||
| Abnormal (>12.04) | 0 | 9 (9.18%) | 0 | ||||
| Tibial (Tt) | n | 106 | 98 | 60 | |||
| Mean ± SD | 8,47 ± 1,26 | 9,77 ± 2,51 | 8,63 ± 1,54 | 0.0003* | >0.9999 | 0.0484* | |
| Median (Q1/Q3) | 8 (8/10) | 9 (8/11) | 9 (8/10) | ||||
| 95% CI | [8.17–8.78] | [9.06–10.45] | [8.09–9.18] | ||||
| Abnormal (>12.25) | 0 | 8 (8.16%) | 0 |
HC = household contacts; n = number of nerves; SD = standard deviation; Q1 = 25th percentile; Q3 = 75th percentile; 95% CI– 95% confidence interval; Abnormal = number of nerves with abnormal measurements and percentages in parentheses; p1 value = healthy volunteers vs. seropositive HC; p2 value = healthy volunteers vs. seronegative HC; p3 value = seropositive HC vs. seronegative HC.
*Statistically significant.