01648nas a2200289 4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653002600065653001600091653003000107653002200137653001100159653002500170653001500195653003900210653001600249653002500265653002200290653001800312100001200330245015600342300001000498490000700508520082900515022001401344 2008 d c2008 Aug10aAdult10aAntitubercular Agents10aClofazimine10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aEndothelial Cells10aHumans10aLeprosy, lepromatous10aMicroscopy10aMicroscopy, Electron, Transmission10aMiddle Aged10aMycobacterium leprae10aPeripheral nerves10aSchwann Cells1 aKumar V00aDoes clofazimine (B663) reach Mycobacterium leprae persisting in Schwann cells and endothelial cells of endoneurial blood vessels in peripheral nerves? a614-80 v713 a

Peripheral nerve biopsies from 10 Lepromatous leprosy (LL) patients who were on multidrug treatment (MDT) were investigated by light and electron microscopy. Clofazimine (CLF) has been included as an essential component of MDT, which is the standard WHO regimen for treatment of leprosy. The patients receiving continuous MDT for a long period had viable bacilli in Schwann cells (SCs) of peripheral nerves whereas they had disappeared from the skin. Our ultrastructural observations clearly indicated the presence of CLF crystals in SCs. The crystals were in the form of osmiophilic rods of various shapes and sizes. On the other hand, the blood nerve barrier was clearly noticed in endoneurial blood vessels (EBV), and the barrier seems to play an important role for penetration of antileprosy drugs especially CLF.

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