SKIN 
 

May 2022     Volume 6 Issue 3 
 

(c) 2022 THE AUTHORS. Published by the National Society for Cutaneous Medicine. 272 

DERMATOLOGIC HISTORY 
 

 

The Legacy of Lucio and Latapí: A Brief History 
 

Brenda Carrillo, BS1 

 
1University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, Galveston, TX  
 

 
 

Rafael Lucio Nájera and Fernando Latapí 
contributed greatly to the knowledge about a 
specific form of diffuse lepromatous leprosy, 
now known as Lucio-Latapí leprosy. This 
condition  is characterized by generalized, 
diffuse infiltration without nodules, alopecia of 
the eyebrows, eyelashes, and body, and 
anhidrosis and dysesthesias.1 It can also 
have a reactional state known as Lucio’s 
phenomenon, which presents with necrotic 
erythema and ulceration of vessels.1 Lucio, a 
Mexican physician, published work 
describing this type of leprosy in 1851.1 
However, this condition was mostly isolated 
to Mexico and Costa Rica.1 For this reason, it 
garnered little attention until it was brought to 
light again by Latapí in 1936.1  
 
Lucio graduated from the Establishment of 
Medical Sciences in Mexico City. 2 He was 
the director of San Lazaro Hospital where he 
extensively researched leprosy.2 He and Dr. 
Ignacio Alvarado published work describing 
different types of leprosy, including Lucio-
Latapí leprosy. This publication provided 
clinical descriptions and insights into 
pathogenesis, therapeutic concepts, and 
epidemiology that are relevant to date and 
that served as a foundation for other 
scholars.3  
 
Latapí founded the Mexican Society of 
Dermatology and the Mexican School of 
Leprology.2 The latter aimed to change laws 

against people with leprosy and promote 
respectful treatment towards them.2 He 
worked to abolish misconceptions about 
leprosy, and created brigades to diagnose 
thousands of patients.2 At the Mexican 
Association of Action Against Leprosy, he 
successfully treated many patients in a time 
when leprosy was thought to be incurable.2 
This center became the Ladislao De La 
Pascua Dermatological Center, which 
continues to teach Mexican dermatologists 
today.2  
 
These physicians are pioneers in the field of 
lepromatous disease. Their work also 
reminds us of the physician’s role in 
educating and advocating for our patients.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Figure 1. Rafael Lucio Nájera (left) and Fernando 
Latapí (right)2 
 

 

https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?2qn036
https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?2qn036


SKIN 
 

May 2022     Volume 6 Issue 3 
 

(c) 2022 THE AUTHORS. Published by the National Society for Cutaneous Medicine. 273 

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None 
 
Funding: None 
 
Corresponding Author: 
Brenda Carrillo, BS 
University of Texas Medical Branch 
Department of Dermatology 
301 University Blvd. 
4.112, McCullough Building 
Galveston, TX, USA 77550 
Email: brecarri@utmb.edu 

 
 
References: 
1. Al Aboud K, Al Aboud A. Eponyms in the 

dermatology literature linked to Latin America. 
Our Dermatol Online. 2013;3(Suppl.1):405-408. 
doi:10.7241/ourd.20133.102 

2. Brzeziński P, Chiriac A, Arenas R, et al. 
Dermatology Eponyms – sign –Lexicon (L). Our 
Dermatol Online. 2014;5(2):217-230. 
doi:10.7241/ourd.20142.58 

3. Murillo-Godínez G. Rafael Lucio Nájera (1819-
1886). Med Int Méx. 2018 septiembre-
octubre;34(5):771-779. DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.24245/mim. v34i5.2197 
 

 

https://www.zotero.org/google-docs/?iihcpU
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