A study of clinico-histopathological correlation in leprosy

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It principally affects the cooler parts of the body, mainly skin and peripheral nerves; it also involves muscles, eyes, bones, testis and internal organs. Histopathological study of leprosy is very important in understanding the disease, its varied manifestations and complications. Clinical diagnosis of early leprosy lesions offer difficulties even to experienced dermatologists and leprologists. A definitive diagnosis may be possible by histopathological examination. Histological diagnosis when available is deemed the gold standard for diagnosis of leprosy.: To diagnose the case of leprosy using skin biopsy specimen. To study the clinical and histopathological correlation among leprosy patients attending a tertiary referral center. To classify the lesion according to Ridley and Jopling (RJ) classification.: The present study was conducted over a period of 18 months from Jan 2019 to July 2020. Total 51 new suspected cases were selected on clinical ground attending dermatological OPD. These patients were subjected to skin biopsy. Histopathological classification done on the basis of Riedly- Jopling criteria. Out of total 51 cases 40 cases showing leprosy changes on histopathological examination.Majority of the patients were males (53.06%), while females (46.94%) constituted a minority with male to female ratio of 1.1:1.Both clinically and histopathologically BT constituted the predominant group (62.7%) and (54.7%) respectively, followed by LL (15.6%). Clinical diagnosis of early leprosy lesions offer difficulties even to experienced dermatologists and leprologists. A definitive diagnosis may be possible by histopathological & bacteriological examination.