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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
09:39
DNA Fingerprinting of Mycobacterium leprae Strains Using Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) - Fragment Length Analysis (FLA)
Published on: July 15, 2011
[Primary neural leprosy. Report of a case]
A Cremades Mira1, M Cerda Nicolás, A Lago
1Departamento de Patología, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia.
Archivos De Neurobiologia
|July 1, 1991
Summary
This case study highlights leprosy (Hansen's disease) presenting as peripheral neuropathy without skin lesions. The nerve biopsy confirmed Hansen's bacillus, demonstrating its presence in various nerve cells.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Leprosy (Hansen's disease) is a chronic infectious disease primarily affecting peripheral nerves and skin.
- Atypical presentations of leprosy, particularly those without cutaneous manifestations, pose diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A patient with a familial history of leprosy presented with peripheral neuropathy but no skin lesions.
- Nerve biopsy revealed significant loss of myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers and chronic inflammatory infiltrate.
Findings:
- Hansen's bacillus (Mycobacterium leprae) was identified in macrophages, Schwann cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts within the affected peripheral nerve.
- Light and ultrastructural examination confirmed the presence of the bacillus, establishing the diagnosis.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering leprosy in patients with peripheral neuropathy, even in the absence of typical skin findings.
- Nerve biopsy with histopathological and ultrastructural analysis is crucial for diagnosing paucibacillary or neural leprosy.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent further nerve damage and disability.
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