Cellularity of macrophage granuloma and morphological index

In the present study, morphological index (MI) and average macrophage count per microscopic field in skin sections of 94 lepromatous (LL) patients is correlated. The subjects included 14 cases with some histoid features. The MI in the lepromatous cases varied from less than one to 40 and the corresponding macrophage counts ranged from 40 to 156. In cases with histoid changes the MI varied from 30 to 60 and the cell count ranged from 215 to 360. The histoid cases showed a higher MI and cell count compared to the other lepromatous cases. There was a positive correlation between MI and macrophage count and the hypercellular state appears to depend on living and multiplying bacteria.