Conjunctival biopsy in patients with leprosy.

The authors examined the eyes of 120 leprosy patients comprising of 30 cases each of tuberculoid, indeterminate, borderline and lepromatous leprosy. The investigation included biopsy of the bulbar conjunctiva on the upper temporal quadrant of the right eye. The study patients included both who were untreated, those that were being treated and those who were in observation after the end of treatment. The aim of the study was to identify the presence of M. leprae in the conjunctiva. Four such cases were found: one borderline patient with no treatment and three lepromatous patients who were being treated with MDT.

Bilateral iridocyclitis caused by Mycobacterium leprae diagnosed through paracentesis.

The authors conducted an anterior chamber paracentesis in a patient with lepromatous leprosy showing bilateral iridocyclitis. The paracentesis was performed in the outpatients department. The aqueous humor was studied by Ziehl-Nielsen staining method and the result was the isolation of the M. leprae in the anterior chamber. This study shows that M. leprae can promote uveitis in leprosy patients. Therefore, it should be looked for in patients having this type of disease.