ULTRASTRUCTURE OF LEPROUS PHLEBITIS

  • 1 December 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 53  (4) , 571-576
Abstract
An ultrastructural study on vein biopsies from six lepromatous leprosy patients was carried out. The results showed that (a) the lumen-lining bacillated cells were endothelial in origin due to the presence of specific Weibel-Palade endothelial cell granules; (b) endothelial cells released Mycobacterium leprae into the lumen by exophagocytosis; (c) M. leprae were able to grow and multiply in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells; and (d) smooth muscle cells did not show any evidence of reaction due to the presence of M. leprae in their cytoplasm.