Diagnostic challenges of single plaque-like lesion paucibacillary leprosy

作者：Barbieri Raquel Rodrigues; Sales Anna Maria; Illarramendi Ximena; Moraes Milton Ozorio; da Costa Nery Jose Augusto; Maria Moreira Suelen Justo; Sarno Euzenir Nunes^*; Machado Alice de Miranda; Bozza Fernando Augusto

来源：Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 2014, 109(7): 944-947.

DOI：10.1590/0074-0276140212

• paucibacillary leprosy
• diagnosis
• quantitative polymerase chain reaction

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.

• 出版日期2014-11