Histological studies in primary neuritic leprosy: changes in the nasal mucosa

The nasal mucosae of 39 cases of primary neuritic leprosy (PNL) registered at Karigiri were studied histologically to determine nasal mucosal involvem ent in PNL and its relevance to the pathogenesis of the disease. Specific c hanges of leprosy were seen in 20 (51%) biopsies, ranging from macrophage g ranulomas with acid fast bacilli, to epithelioid granulomas and nerve infla mmation. The remaining biopsies revealed chronic inflammatory changes of th e mucosa or mild non-specific nerve changes. These findings show that there are widespread effects of the disease even in PNL patients in whom the dis ease is believed to be confined to the peripheral nerves. The findings also show that early leprosy involvement can be found in the nasal mucosa even before lesions become apparent in the skin or other parts of the body. The nasal mucosa could be one of the sites for the primary lesion in leprosy. C linical and histological examination of the nasal mucosa may be useful and important in the early diagnosis of leprosy and especially in contacts.