Facies leonina

24-year-old with lepromatous leprosy (photo from the 19th century)

Facies leonina (lat. Lion face) is a medical term. In the diagnosis of leprosy , it was used early in medieval medicine for a terminal stage of the disease. In modern medical history, the term was established in the 19th century by the dermatologist Eduard Arning from Hamburg . Besides leprosy is in leukemia , Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome , acromegaly and Sezary syndrome , the symptoms of the leonine facies known.

In lepromatous leprosy, this clinical picture is found in addition to the symmetrical sensitivity disorders in the final phase of the disease and is characterized by the loss of hair, eyebrows and eyelashes ( madarosis ), destruction of the nasal cartilage and coarsening of facial features. The liver, kidneys, testes and eyes, along with the nerves and skin, are also affected at this stage of the disease.

That leprosy symptoms are perceived as animal-like can also be seen in the description of deformations of the hands. This clinical picture is known as "clawed hands".

literature

• Claudio Guedes Salgado, Josafa Goncalves Barreto: Leonine Facies: Lepromatous Leprosy. In: New England Journal of Medicine. 366, 2012, pp. 1433-1433, doi : 10.1056 / NEJMicm1106238 . (Image Facies Leonina)

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !