KUMJ | VOL. 9 | NO. 4 | ISSUE 36 | OCT-DEC, 2011

Clinicohistopathological Correlation in Leprosy
Mathur MC, Ghimire RBK, Shrestha P, Kedia SK

Background

Leprosy is a chronic, infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It is

classified into five groups based on clinical, histological, microbiological and

immunological criteria (Ridley & Jopling Classification) . However, a great variation

has been observed in the interpretation of histopathological examination ok skin

biopsies and clinical presentation of the disease.

Objective

To correlate clinical diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis of leprosy patients

in Nepal.

Methods

A retrospective hospital-based study was conducted among patients with all clinical

types of leprosy, classified as per the Ridley-Jopling classification. Skin biopsies

were taken from active lesions in all patients and were stained with Hematoxylin

& Eosin stain and modified Fite-Ferraco stain for identification of Mycobacterium

leprae. The histopathological findings were compared with clinical diagnoses.

Results

A total 156 patients were studied, out of which 84 (53.8%) males and 72 (46.1%)

females between 8 and 86 years of age. The majority of patients 33 (23.57%)

were in the age group of 21-30 years and least affected was children below 10

years 1(0.007%).Overall coincidence of clinical and histopathological diagnoses

of classification was seen in 115 cases (80.4%). The maximum correlation

(95.2%) was noted in LL patients (p value 0.000049) followed by BT(89.74%), TT

(73.2%),BL(72.4%), BB(64.7%).

Conclusion

Leprosy still continues to be one of the common infectious disease in Nepal and

skin biopsy is a useful tool in confirming the clinical diagnosis of leprosy as well as

for the therapeutic guide.