02041nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001653002500042653001200067653001400079653001700093653001100110653001400121100001700135700001900152700001900171700002100190700001600211245010000227856004800327490000700375520142900382       2008                            d10aMycobacterium leprae10aleprosy10aPathology10aNasal Mucosa10aBiopsy10adiagnosis1 aRibeiro FADF1 aPatrocínio LG1 aPatrocínio JA1 aNegrão Fleury R1 aGoulart IMB00a[Histopathology of nasal mucosa and its correlation to the immune response in leprosy patients]  uhttp://www.rborl.org.br/39cbo/DA.asp?f=53610 v713 aIntroduction: Leprosy, whose etiologic agent is M. leprae, has its clinical manifestations correlated with distinct immunologic forms. The mechanism of infectivity and dissemination of the disease are not completely known, though nasal mucosa is supposed to have an important hole on pathogenesis. Objective: Evaluate clinical and immunological aspects of untreated leprosy patients trough clinical correlation, bacilloscopic index of nasal mucosa, Mitsuda test and ML-Flow. Material and Method: Two hundred twenty-two patients were evaluated, clinical classified and submitted to skin smear, nasal biopsy, ML-Flow and Mitsuda test. Results: The borderline spectrum was 68,8% of the cases. Nasal biopsy revealed 100% positivity on those who had specific antibodies against M. leprae on blood sample. Nasal bacilloscopic index showed a good correlation with ML-Flow and had similar results when compared to skin smear. The tests agreement was good, revealing that nasal biopsy can be reliable on the diagnosis of multibacillary clinical forms and on the evaluation of the immunological status of leprosy patients. Conclusion: The presence of disseminated bacilli on nasal mucosa was similar to skin involvement, when correlated with Mitsuda test and ML-Flow. As a result, the hole of nasal bacilloscopic index is as important as skin smear and nasal biopsy on clinical and immunologic characterization of leprosy patients. ..