Diagnostic challenges of single plaque-like lesion paucibacillary leprosy
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
109(7): 944-947, 11/2014. tab, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-728804
ABSTRACT
The diagnosis of single-lesion paucibacillary leprosy remains a challenge. Reviews by expert dermatopathologists and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results obtained from 66 single-plaque biopsy samples were compared. Histological findings were graded as high (HP), medium (MP) or low (LP) probability of leprosy or other dermatopathy (OD). Mycobacterium leprae-specific genes were detected using qPCR. The biopsies of 47 out of 57 clinically diagnosed patients who received multidrug therapy were classified as HP/MP, eight of which were qPCR negative. In the LP/OD (n = 19), two out of eight untreated patients showed positive qPCR results. In the absence of typical histopathological features, qPCR may be utilised to aid in final patient diagnosis, thus reducing overtreatment and delay in diagnosis.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Skin
/
DNA, Bacterial
/
Leprosy, Paucibacillary
/
Mycobacterium leprae
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz/BR
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