01621nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653001100080653001100091653002600102653001200128653000900140653003000149653000900179100001200188700001400200700001500214700001500229700001300244700001200257700001600269245006000285300001000345490000700355520093100362022001401293       2007                            d  c2007 Jul10aAdolescent10aChild10aFemale10aHumans10aIn Situ Hybridization10aleprosy10aMale10apolymerase chain reaction10aSkin1 aDayal R1 aAgarwal M1 aNatrajan M1 aKatoch V M1 aKatoch K1 aSingh K1 aChauhan D S00aPCR and in-situ hybridization for diagnosis of leprosy.  a645-80 v743 a<p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>To assess the diagnostic value of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>This prospective study was carried out in 22 patients</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>The histopathological examination confirmed the clinical diagnosis in 27.2% cases only. In situ hybridization showed a positivity of 42.8% in early (I/BT) and 46.7% in BB/BL group. In situ hybridization thus enhanced the diagnosis by 18.1%. PCR targeting 36 kDa gene of M. leprae was performed on 15 cases. In these 15 cases, histopathology confirmed the diagnosis in 4 cases (26.6%) and PCR confirmed the diagnosis in 10 cases (66.6%), thus enhancing the diagnosis by 40%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>36 kDa PCR and in situ hybridization enhance the diagnosis of leprosy when compared to routine histopathology. They are important diagnostic tools for definitive diagnosis in early and doubtful cases of leprosy.</p>  a0973-7693