[Subpolar lepromatous leprosy. A histological and ultrastructural study of a case]

Leproma material from a female patient with a previous diagnosis of lepromatous leprosy underwent clinical, histopathological and electrone microscope studies. Following a year under rifampicin treatment it was found that the histic lesions corresponded to those described by Ridley (1974) within the clinical picture of regressive subpolar lepromatous leprosy. Electrone microscope studies of the cells composing the lesions were conducted; their ultrastructural appearance does not markedly differ from that reported for the polar form, but regarding the lack of acid phosphatase reaction for the giant multinucleated and vacuolated cells.