02083nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653002100080653001900101653001100120653001100131653001200142653000900154653002500163653003000188653002400218653000900242100001200251700001400263700001500277700001500292700001300307700001500320245007000335300001100405490000700416050001400423520128200437022001401719       2005                            d  c2005 Dec10aAdolescent10aChild10aChild, Preschool10aDNA, Bacterial10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMycobacterium leprae10apolymerase chain reaction10aProspective Studies10aSkin1 aDayal R1 aSingh S P1 aMathur P P1 aKatoch V M1 aKatoch K1 aNatrajan M00aDiagnostic value of in situ Polymerase Chain Reaction in leprosy.  a1043-60 v72  aDAYAL20053 a<p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>This prospective study was carried out to assess the diagnostic value of in situ Polymerase Chain Reaction in leprosy, particularly in enhancing the histopathological diagnosis.</p><p><b>METHOD: </b>Clinical examination of 20 patients (< 16 yr) was done and skin smear for AFB was prepared. Biopsy of lesion site was taken for histopathological examination and in situ PCR testing.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>The histopathological examination confirmed the clinical diagnosis in 45% cases only; non-specific histopathology was reported in the remaining 55% cases. In situ PCR showed a positivity of 57.1% in early/localized form of leprosy (IIBT) and 61.5% in (BB/BL) group. When compared to histopathology examination, a significant enhancement of 15% in diagnosis was seen. With in situ PCR, the diagnosis could be confirmed in 4/11 (36.3%) cases with non-specific histopathological features, (which is common in early disease) in addition to confirmation of 8/9 (88.8%) histopathologically-confirmed tissue sections. Histopathology and in situ PCR, combined together, confirmed the diagnosis in 13/20 cases (65% of total cases).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Thus, in situ PCR is an important diagnostic tool especially in early and doubtful cases of leprosy.</p>  a0973-7693