Reactional state and nutritional profile among leprosy patients in the primary health care system, Greater Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil

leprosy may present acute/subacute inflammatory processes (leprosy reactions). the study characterized the reactional states of patients at health clinics in vitória, espírito santo state, brazil, and associated them with sociodemographic factors and clinical/nutritional variables. between january and december 2009, longitudinal follow-up of patients with leprosy continued until leprosy reactions occurred or patients completed 6 months of multidrug therapy. of the 151 patients participating, 78 (51.7%) were females, 48 (31.8%) had 5 to 8 years schooling, 93 (61.6%) worked and earned from 1 to 3 minimum wages, and 55 (36.4 %) had leprosy reactions, but with no statistical association to socioeconomic characteristics or nutritional status. however, absence of reaction was more common in the low-weight group, suggesting a trend in this group to protection from the reaction (p = 0.0906). the study found no association between nutritional status and leprosy reaction.