Eyes from autopsy cases of leprosy patients (29 eyes from 16 cases) were examined histologically. In some cases immunohistochemical methods were used. In the lepromatous type, ocular complications such as keratitis and iridocyclitis were often found. In the tuberculoid type, such complications were seldom encountered. In the active stage, lepra cells and "foamy cells" showed positive reaction to acid-fast staining and anti-BCG antibody but in the silent stage they did not react. All foamy cells in both the active and the silent stage showed positive reaction to KP1, but they did not react to lysozyme or alpha 1-antitrypsin. These results suggest that the foamy cells originated from macrophages, but that their biological activity was low.
BT - Nippon Ganka Gakkai zasshi C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7942345?dopt=Abstract DA - 1994 Aug IS - 8 J2 - Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi LA - jpn N2 -Eyes from autopsy cases of leprosy patients (29 eyes from 16 cases) were examined histologically. In some cases immunohistochemical methods were used. In the lepromatous type, ocular complications such as keratitis and iridocyclitis were often found. In the tuberculoid type, such complications were seldom encountered. In the active stage, lepra cells and "foamy cells" showed positive reaction to acid-fast staining and anti-BCG antibody but in the silent stage they did not react. All foamy cells in both the active and the silent stage showed positive reaction to KP1, but they did not react to lysozyme or alpha 1-antitrypsin. These results suggest that the foamy cells originated from macrophages, but that their biological activity was low.
PY - 1994 SP - 801 EP - 6 T2 - Nippon Ganka Gakkai zasshi TI - [Ocular histopathological studies in leprosy in the silent stage--I. Light microscopic feature]. VL - 98 SN - 0029-0203 ER -