Role of Polymerase Chain Reaction in Diagnosis of Patients with Leprosy | ||||
| International Journal of Medical Arts | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 26 May 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ijma.2025.267470.1925 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Mohamed B. M. Ahmed  1; Hassan Khodair2; Tarek Mustafa Emran 3; Osama Hashem 4; Ramadan Mohamed Eldahshan5
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| 1Department of Dermatology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt | ||||
| 2Dermatology and venereology Department; Al-Azhar University; Faculty of Medicine (Damietta) | ||||
| 3Department of Clinical Pathology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt | ||||
| 4Dermatology department, Al-Azher university | ||||
| 5Dermatology, venereology and andrology department Faculty of Medicine Al-Azhar University, Damietta | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Leprosy poses a significant public health challenge in numerous low- to middle-income countries, with a consistent influx of new cases annually. The development of a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based method for directly detecting Mycobacterium leprae DNA in clinical samples has been introduced to enhance diagnostic support. Aim: This study aimed to assess the utility of a PCR-based technique for diagnosing leprosy and investigate the correlation between PCR-based diagnosis and clinical diagnosis. Patients and methods: An investigation was conducted on 50 clinically diagnosed leprosy cases. Each patient underwent comprehensive history-taking and a thorough clinical and dermatological examination. Results: The study revealed a higher percentage of female patients (56%) compared to male patients (44%), with a slight increase in the patients' average age (41 years). Among the participants, 24 had household contact. The qPCR results indicated a significant reduction in Mycobacterium leprae RNA levels after 6 months of treatment, particularly among patients with multibacillary and paucibacillary lesions. When comparing PCR outcomes between patients with multibacillary and paucibacillary lesions, those with paucibacillary lesions exhibited a higher clearance rate than those with multibacillary lesions. Conclusion: The findings underscored the positive impact of integrating qPCR into our clinic's routine, enhancing in individuals suspected of leprosy in individuals suspected of having the disease. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Leprosy; Polymerase chain reaction; Mycobacterium leprae | ||||
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