Korean J Dermatol.  1973 Dec;11(3):151-161.

Histopathological Investigation of Leprous Skin at Defferent Stages of Treatment

• Kim JW

Abstract

This is an attempt to investigate the histopathological change of 246 cases of leprosy especially in the healing stage of leprosy. The results are summerized as follows: 1. Histopathological findings in the healing stage of leprosy, a) More than half of the cases showed only a slight degree of inflammatory cell infiltration in the group that had received treatment for more than 7 years. b) About half the cases (46.9%) showed marked changes of collagen fiber that is mainly swelling and hypertrophy. c) In 40.6% of the cases, elastic fiber manifested hypertrophy, coarseness and curling. d) Changes of elastic fiber was markedly decreased in the cases which had received more than 7 years treatment. e) Inflammatory infiltration was located mainly in the upper dermis and the infiltration around the blood vessels and skin appendages were not changed and remained regardless of duration of treatment. Histopathological findings in the group of lepromatous type. a) The free zone of the upper dermis disappeared in most cases. b) The cases with moderate inflammatory infiltration were most common and they were located mainly in the mid dermis. The degree of infiltration was not markedly changed according to the duration of treatment. c) Inflammatory infiltration around the blood vessels and skin appendages were more common than that of the healing stage. d) Changes of collagen fiber was manifested mainly hypertrophy and swelling and it was recognized throughout the entire course of the treatment. Elastic fiber found to be curled and coarse in most cases of lepromatous leprosy. Atrophy of elastic fiber was observed in cases of long treatment. 3. Histopathological findings in the group of tuberculoid type. Changes of collagen fiber was slighter than that of the lepromatous type and was manifested swelling and hypertrophy. Elastic fiber coarseness was observed in many cases.

MeSH Terms

Atrophy
Blood Vessels
Collagen
Dermis
Elastic Tissue
Hypertrophy
Leprosy
Leprosy, Lepromatous
Skin*
Collagen