Study of thickened nerves in a leprosy endemic region. Part II--Ultrastructural and tease fibre study

Ten out of sixteen cases of thickened nerves labelled as having idiopathic neuropathy showed hypertrophic changes, when their peripheral nerves were observed under light microscopy. Electron microscopy of seven nerves revealed more details. The reactions in various parameters of nerves were recorded. The significant observation was of one case harbouring Lepra bacilli as seen under electron microscope and having other changes similar to changes seen in early cases of leprosy. Two cases were also thought to have leprosy on the basis of the ultrastructural observation on their nerves. These could have been missed otherwise.