A study of leprosy cases: Correlation of clinical features, histopathology and demonstration of Lepra bacilli.

Introduction: The clinical manifestations of leprosy are too varied and diverse and can mimic variety of unrelated diseases. In patients of leprosy the treatment plan differs depending on histopathological subtype and bacillary load. This study aims to decide the incidence of various histopathological subtypes of leprosy and to correlate the clinical subtyping of all suspected cases of leprosy, with their histopathological subtyping &findings of modified Fite Faraco staining to demonstrate Lepra bacilli.Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted at Department of Pathology, P. D. U Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, for the period of 2 years from August 2014 to Sept 2016. Skinbiopsies from all patients clinically suspected as leprosy were studied to confirm the diagnosis, to classify histopathologically, and to know bacillary load by Fite Faraco staining. The clinical features, histopathological features and Fite Faraco stain findings were then correlated. Results: Out of 182 Biopsies from suspected cases of leprosy, 171 were confirmed as leprosy on histopathology. Peak incidence was in 21- 30 years of age group, while M: F ratio was 1.75:1.Maximum number [24.7%] of cases were of lepromatous leprosy (LL). Overall clinicopathological parity in various types of leprosy was observed in 67.4% of cases. Modified Fite Faraco stain positivity was observed in 64.3 % cases. Conclusion: Leprosy is still prevalent in the region of study, Lepromatous Leprosy being the commonest. Proper histopathological diagnosis with subtyping and demonstration of lepra bacilli on tissue sections are very important in clinical management of all leprosy cases.