Polymerase Chain Reaction versus Slit Skin Smear in Diagnosis of Leprosy; A Cross Sectional Study
Mostafa kamel, N., Hashem, O., Khodair, H., Abd El-Samee, H. (2020). Polymerase Chain Reaction versus Slit Skin Smear in Diagnosis of Leprosy; A Cross Sectional Study. EKB Journal Management System, 2(3), 650-654. doi: 10.21608/ijma.2020.30181.1126
Nehal Magdy Mostafa kamel; Osama Hashem; Hassan Mohamed Khodair; Hesham Samir Abd El-Samee. "Polymerase Chain Reaction versus Slit Skin Smear in Diagnosis of Leprosy; A Cross Sectional Study". EKB Journal Management System, 2, 3, 2020, 650-654. doi: 10.21608/ijma.2020.30181.1126
Mostafa kamel, N., Hashem, O., Khodair, H., Abd El-Samee, H. (2020). 'Polymerase Chain Reaction versus Slit Skin Smear in Diagnosis of Leprosy; A Cross Sectional Study', EKB Journal Management System, 2(3), pp. 650-654. doi: 10.21608/ijma.2020.30181.1126
Mostafa kamel, N., Hashem, O., Khodair, H., Abd El-Samee, H. Polymerase Chain Reaction versus Slit Skin Smear in Diagnosis of Leprosy; A Cross Sectional Study. EKB Journal Management System, 2020; 2(3): 650-654. doi: 10.21608/ijma.2020.30181.1126

Polymerase Chain Reaction versus Slit Skin Smear in Diagnosis of Leprosy; A Cross Sectional Study

International Journal of Medical Arts
Article 24, Volume 2, Issue 3, July 2020, Page 650-654  XML PDF (255.77 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/ijma.2020.30181.1126
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Authors
Nehal Magdy Mostafa kamel email 1; Osama Hashemorcid 2; Hassan Mohamed Khodair3; Hesham Samir Abd El-Samee4
1Department of Dermatology, elsenbellawin General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Populations, Egypt
2Department of Dermatology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt
3Dermatology Department, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt.
4Department of Clinical Pathology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt.
Abstract
Background: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease where delay in diagnosis or treatment can lead to deformities and disabilities for the rest of the patient’s life. Definite diagnosis of leprosy has long been based on clinical picture, histopathology and/or the detection of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) from tissue smears or tissue sections stained by Ziehl-Neelsen. 
Aim of the work: We evaluatedin this study, the usefulness of PCR for detection of M.leprae in the serum, as less invasive technique, in comparison to skin slit smear  for the diagnosis of  leprosy.
Patients and Methods:This study included 30 non-treated patients of leprosy (9 multibacillary, 21 paucibacillary) skin slit smears had been taken. In addition, serum samples had been collected for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] test.
Results: Negative Slit Skin Smear for AFB had been obtained in 20 cases with a rate of positivity of 33%. Serum PCR was positive in 20 patients giving an overall rate of positivity of 67% which confirm the diagnosis in 11 out of 20 cases with slit skin smear [SSS] negative.
Conclusion: PCR does show to be more sensitive than slit skin smear [SSS] indicating its future use for diagnostic purposes especially in early leprosy cases. 
Keywords
Leprosy; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Slit Skin Smear; Mycobacterium Leprae; Acid-Fast Bacilli
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