A Clinico-Histopathological Study Of Hansen's Disease'': A Retrospective Study In A Tertiary Care Hospital At Rajkot (Gujarat), India

Background: Hansen’s disease also known as Leprosy is a chronic infectious communicable disease caused mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy is known, since ancient times as "Kushtaroga", whose clinical manifestations are largely confined to the skin, peripheral nervous system, upper respiratory tract, eyes and testes. The three cardinal sign of the disease are skin lesions, skin anesthesia and enlarged peripheral nerves. This study investigated the clinico-histopathological examination of cases of Hansen’s disease at P.D.U Medical College and Hospital, Rajkot, Gujarat. Objective: To know prevalence of leprosy, to study the histopathological features of clinically suspected cases of leprosy in skin biopsies and categorise from tuberculoid to lepromatous leprosy based on Ridley Jopling classification and examined with Fite Faraco stain to look for positivity. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out in the Histo-pathology laboratory, Department of Pathology, P.D.U Medical College and Hospital, Rajkot, Gujarat over a period of 11 months between August 2024 to June 2025. Skin biopsies were obtained for histopathological examination along with properly filled requisition form, including detailed clinical history, after adequate fixation and tissue processing, paraffin embedded serial sections done and sections stained with Haematoxylin & eosin stain and F. F. stain, examined under microscope. Results: A total of 70 cases of this study, most of cases occurred in age group (21-40) years (58.56%) and showed marked male predominance with M:F ratio=3:2. Lepromatous leprosy (47.2%) was the most common histopathological type of leprosy. Maximum clinicopathological correlation seen in BL (100%), BT (75%) and MB (75%). Conclusion: Leprosy is one of the leading causes of physical disabilities which contribute to intense social stigma resulting in discrimination of patients and their families,especially in low-economic communities. The clinical manifestations of leprosy are so diverse and can mimic a variety of unrelated diseases. Presentation may vary from an insignificant skin lesion to extensive disease. Lack of accurate diagnosis and treatment of leprosy can cause permanent damage to skin, nerves, limbs and eyes leading to deformities.