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Autopsy findings in 35 cases of leprosy in Malaysia

Jayalakshmi P 1 , Looi LM 2 , Lim KJ 3 , Rajogopalan K 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 P. Jayalakshmi, MRCPath, Lecturer, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 2 L. M. Looi, MRCPath, MRCPA. Professor, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 3 K. J. Lim, MPH, Deputy Director, National Leprosy Control Centre, Sungai Buluh, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 4 K. Rajagopalan, FRCP, Director, National Leprosy Control Centre, Sungai Buluh, Selangor, Malaysia
Int. J. Lepr. Other Mycobact. Dis., 1987 Sep;55(3):510-4.
PMID: 3655465

Abstract

The findings of autopsies performed on 35 leprosy subjects in the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, between January 1981 and December 1985 are presented. This is the first report based on autopsy findings from Malaysia. The patients were elderly subjects with a mean age of 74 years. Sixty-six percent had lepromatous leprosy. None had active skin lesions. The most common cause of death was pyogenic infection, particularly bronchopneumonia. Tuberculosis was noted in 25% of the cases. The other important causes of death included cardiac and renal failure. Renal lesions were evident in 71% of the cases, and the most common pathology was interstitial nephritis. Generalized amyloidosis complicated six (17%) patients.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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