Analysis of HLA-G protein expression in leprosy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) in leprosy. Biopsy and serum samples were collected from 18 patients presenting with leprosy and from healthy controls. Samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and ELISA techniques. HLA-G expression was observed in biopsy samples of all patients. The healthy control samples were consistently negative for HLA-G expression. Control plasma samples displayed significantly higher HLA-G expression than those from the patients (p < 0.01). These results are the first demonstration of the expression of HLA-G in leprosy.

Leprosy survey among rural communities and wild armadillos from Amazonas state, Northern Brazil.

There is evidence that in southern US, leprosy is a zoonosis infecting wild Dasypus novemcinctus armadillos but the extent of this finding is unknown. This ecological study investigated leprosy in rural communities and in wild armadillos from the Brazilian Amazon. The study area was the Mamiá Lake of Coari municipality, Amazonas State, Northern region, a hyper endemic leprosy area where residents live on subsistence farming, fishing and armadillo hunting and its meat intake are frequent. The leprosy survey was conducted in sixteen communities by a visiting team of specialists. Local partakers provided wild armadillos to investigate M. leprae infection. Volunteers had complete dermato-neurological examination by a dermatologist with expertise in leprosy diagnosis, suspect skin lesions were biopsied for histopathology (Hematoxylin-eosin/HE, Fite-Faraco/FF staining); slit skin smears were collected. Armadillos' tissue fragments (skins, spleens, livers, lymph nodes, adrenal glands, others) were prepared for histopathology (HE/FF) and for M. leprae repetitive element-RLEP-qPCR. Among 176 volunteers, six new indeterminate leprosy cases were identified (incidence = 3.4%). Suspect skin sections and slit skin smears were negative for bacilli. Twelve wild D. novemcinctus were investigated (48 specimens/96 slides) and histopathological features of M. leprae infection were not found, except for one skin presenting unspecific inflammatory infiltrate suggestive of indeterminate leprosy. Possible traumatic neuroma, granuloma with epithelioid and Langhans cells, foreign-body granuloma were also identified. Granulomatous/non-granulomatous dermatitides were periodic-acid-Schiff/PAS negative for fungus. M. leprae-RLEP-qPCR was negative in all armadillos' tissues; no bacillus was found in histopathology. Our survey in rural communities confirmed the high endemicity for leprosy while one armadillo was compatible with paucibacillary M. leprae infection. At least in the highly endemic rural area of Coari, in the Brazilian Amazon region where infectious sources from untreated multibacillary leprosy are abundant, M. leprae infected armadillos may not represent a major source of infection nor a significant public health concern.

In situ T regulatory cells and Th17 cytokines in paired samples of leprosy type 1 and type 2 reactions.

Leprosy is a complex chronic, infectious dermato-neurological disease that affects the skin and peripheral nerves especially during immuno-inflammatory episodes known as type 1/T1R and type 2/T2R reactions. This study investigated the in situ expression of CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells and TGF-ß1, IFN-γ, IL-17 in leprosy T1R and T2R. Tregs were evaluated in 114 skin biopsies from 74 leprosy patients: 56 T1R (28-paired reaction-free/reactional biopsies, 28 unpaired T1R), 18 T2R (12 paired reaction-free/reactional biopsies, 6 unpaired T2R). Double CD25+Foxp3+immunostained Treg cells obtained by automated platform (Ventana BenchMark XT, Roche, Mannheim, Germany) were counted (Nikon Eclipse E400 2mm2). Cytokine expression was evaluated by immunostaining in 96 biopsies (48 paired reaction-free/reactional lesions, 24 T1R, 24 T2R) using rabbit polyclonal anti human TGF-ß1, IFN-γ, IL-17 antibodies (Santa Cruz Biotechnology CA, USA). Treg cell counts in leprosy reactional lesions were higher compared to reaction-free (p = 0.002). Treg numbers were higher in T1R compared to paired unreactional T1R lesions (p = 0.001). Similar frequency of Treg was seen in paired reactional versus unreactional T2R lesions. Higher expression of TGF-ß, IFN-γ and IL-17 was seen in T2R lesions compared to T1R and reaction-free lesions. The increase in Treg cells during T1R suggests a suppressive role to control the exacerbated cellular immune response during T1R that can cause tissue and nerve damage. Evidences of upregulated Treg cells in TR1, which usually occurs in patients with Th1-Th17 immunity and the indications of the expression of Th17/IL-17 in T2R, which develops in patients with Th2-Treg profile, suggest plasticity of Treg-Th17 cells populations and a potential role for these cell populations in the immunopathogenesis of leprosy reactions.

Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia (Heck's Disease) in a 57-Year-Old Brazilian Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH), or Heck's disease, is a rare disease of the oral mucosa associated with infection by some subtypes of human papilloma virus, especially subtypes 13 or 32. The disease is predominantly found in children and adolescents with indigenous heritage, but other ethnic groups can be affected worldwide. To the best of the authors' knowledge, it has not been reported in Brazil's elderly population. This article describes a case of FEH in a 57-year-old Brazilian patient presenting since childhood, with multiple lesions in the lips, buccal mucosa and tongue. The solitary tongue lesion underwent excisional biopsy and the histopathological analysis showed parakeratosis, acanthosis, rete pegs with a club-shaped appearance, koilocytosis and the presence of mitosoid cells. These microscopic findings in conjunction with clinical presentation were sufficient to establish the accurate diagnosis of FEH. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed, but no one human papillomavirus (HPV) subtype could be identified. Clinicians must be aware of this rare oral disease, which can even affect elderly patients, as we described here. Treatment may be indicated in selected cases due to esthetic and/or functional problems.

Multibacillary leprosy patients with high and persistent serum antibodies to leprosy IDRI diagnostic-1/LID-1: higher susceptibility to develop type 2 reactions

Leprosy inflammatory episodes [type 1 (T1R) and type 2 (T2R) reactions] represent the major cause of irreversible nerve damage. Leprosy serology is known to be influenced by the patient’s bacterial index (BI) with higher positivity in multibacillary patients (MB) and specific multidrug therapy (MDT) reduces antibody production. This study evaluated by ELISA antibody responses to leprosy Infectious Disease Research Institute diagnostic-1 (LID-1) fusion protein and phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) in 100 paired serum samples of 50 MB patients collected in the presence/absence of reactions and in nonreactional patients before/after MDT. Patients who presented T2R had a median BI of 3+, while MB patients with T1R and nonreactional patients had median BI of 2.5+ (p > 0.05). Anti-LID-1 and anti-PGL-I antibodies declined in patients diagnosed during T1R (p < 0.05). Anti-LID-1 levels waned in MB with T2R at diagnosis and nonreactional MB patients (p < 0.05). Higher anti-LID-1 levels were seen in patients with T2R at diagnosis (vs. patients with T1R at diagnosis, p = 0.008; vs. nonreactional patients, p = 0.020) and in patients with T2R during MDT (vs. nonreactional MB, p = 0.020). In MB patients, high and persistent anti-LID-1 antibody levels might be a useful tool for clinicians to predict which patients are more susceptible to develop leprosy T2R.

Seroreactivity to new Mycobacterium leprae protein antigens in different leprosy-endemic regions in Brazil

New Mycobacterium leprae protein antigens can contribute to improved serologic tests for leprosy diagnosis/classification and multidrug therapy (MDT) monitoring. This study describes seroreactivity to M. leprae proteins among participants from three highly endemic leprosy areas in Brazil: central-western Goiânia/Goiás (GO) (n = 225), Rondonópolis/Mato Grosso (MT) (n = 764) and northern Prata Village/Pará (PA) (n = 93). ELISA was performed to detect IgG to proteins (92f, 46f, leprosy IDRI diagnostic-1, ML0405, ML1213) and IgM to phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I). Multibacillary (MB) leprosy had positive rates for PGL-I that were similar to those for proteins; however, some anti-PGL-I-negative subjects were positive for proteins, suggesting that adding protein antigen to PGL-I can enhance the sensitivity of MB leprosy detection. In MT, different degrees of seroreactivity were observed and ranked for MB, former patients after MDT, paucibacillary (PB) leprosy, household contact (HHC) and endemic control (EC) groups. The seroreactivity of PB patients was low in GO and MT. HHCs from different endemic sites had similar IgG antibody responses to proteins. 46f and 92f were not recognised by most tuberculosis patients, ECs or HHCs within GO, an area with high BCG vaccination coverage. Low positivity in EC and HHC was observed in PA and MT. Our results provide evidence for the development of an improved serologic test that could be widely applicable for MB leprosy testing in Brazil.

Comparison of two rapid tests for anti-phenolic glycolipid-I serology in Brazil and Nepal

The diagnosis of leprosy continues to be based on clinical symptoms and early diagnosis and treatment are critical to preventing disability and transmission. Sensitive and specific laboratory tests are not available for diagnosing leprosy. Despite the limited applicability of anti-phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) serology for diagnosis, it has been suggested as an additional tool to classify leprosy patients (LPs) for treatment purposes. Two formats of rapid tests to detect anti-PGL-I antibodies [ML immunochromatography assay (ICA) and ML Flow] were compared in different groups, multibacillary patients, paucibacillary patients, household contacts and healthy controls in Brazil and Nepal. High ML Flow intra-test concordance was observed and low to moderate agreement between the results of ML ICA and ML Flow tests on the serum of LPs was observed. LPs were "seroclassified" according to the results of these tests and the seroclassification was compared to other currently used classification systems: the World Health Organization operational classification, the bacilloscopic index and the Ridley-Jopling classification. When analysing the usefulness of these tests in the operational classification of PB and MB leprosy for treatment and follow-up purposes, the ML Flow test was the best point-of-care test for subjects in Nepal and despite the need for sample dilution, the ML ICA test yielded better performance among Brazilian subjects. Our results identified possible ways to improve the performance of both tests.

Seroreactivity to new Mycobacterium leprae protein antigens in different leprosy-endemic regions in Brazil

New Mycobacterium leprae protein antigens can contribute to improved serologic tests for leprosy diagnosis/classification and multidrug therapy (MDT) monitoring. This study describes seroreactivity to M. leprae proteins among participants from three highly endemic leprosy areas in Brazil: central-western Goiânia/Goiás (GO) (n = 225), Rondonópolis/Mato Grosso (MT) (n = 764) and northern Prata Village/Pará (PA) (n = 93). ELISA was performed to detect IgG to proteins (92f, 46f, leprosy IDRI diagnostic-1, ML0405, ML1213) and IgM to phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I). Multibacillary (MB) leprosy had positive rates for PGL-I that were similar to those for proteins; however, some anti-PGL-I-negative subjects were positive for proteins, suggesting that adding protein antigen to PGL-I can enhance the sensitivity of MB leprosy detection. In MT, different degrees of seroreactivity were observed and ranked for MB, former patients after MDT, paucibacillary (PB) leprosy, household contact (HHC) and endemic control (EC) groups. The seroreactivity of PB patients was low in GO and MT. HHCs from different endemic sites had similar IgG antibody responses to proteins. 46f and 92f were not recognised by most tuberculosis patients, ECs or HHCs within GO, an area with high BCG vaccination coverage. Low positivity in EC and HHC was observed in PA and MT. Our results provide evidence for the development of an improved serologic test that could be widely applicable for MB leprosy testing in Brazil

Langerhans cells histiocytosis with vulvar involvement and responding to thalidomide therapy--case report.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a member of a group of rare histiocytic syndromes and is characterized for the proliferation of histiocytes called Langerhans'cells. Its manifestations vary from a solitary injury to systemic involvement, and vulvar lesions are uncommon. We describe a refractory case of cutaneous limited disease in a 57-year-old woman. She presented with a 6-year history of an erythematous papular eruption of the scalp, face, vulva, trunk and axillae. The diagnosis is difficult and in this case it was confirmed through immunohistochemical study and clinical improvement was achieved with thalidomide.

Histiocitose de células de Langerhans com acometimento vulvar e com resposta terapêutica à talidomida: relato de caso / Langerhans cells histiocytosis with vulvar involvement and responding to thalidomide therapy: case report

A histiocitose de células de Langerhans é representante de um raro grupo de síndromes histiocitárias, sendo caracterizada pela proliferação das células de Langerhans. Suas manifestações variam de lesão solitária a envolvimento multissistêmico, sendo o acometimento vulvar incomum. Segue-se o relato de caso refratário da doença limitada à pele, em mulher de 57 anos. A paciente apresentava história de pápulas eritematosas ulceradas em couro cabeludo, face, vulva, tronco e axila há seis anos. O diagnóstico da doença é difícil, sendo confirmado neste caso através de estudo imuno-histoquímico e se obteve resposta terapêutica e eficaz, com a administração de talidomida.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a member of a group of rare histiocytic syndromes and is characterized for the proliferation of histiocytes called Langerhans'cells. Its manifestations vary from a solitary injury to systemic involvement, and vulvar lesions are uncommon. We describe a refractory case of cutaneous limited disease in a 57-year-old woman. She presented with a 6-year history of an erythematous papular eruption of the scalp, face, vulva, trunk and axillae. The diagnosis is difficult and in this case it was confirmed through immunohistochemical study and clinical improvement was achieved with thalidomide.

Lúpus eritematoso sistêmico bolhoso: diagnóstico diferencial com dermatite herpetiforme / Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus: differential diagnosis with dermatitis herpetiformis

O lúpus eritematoso sistêmico bolhoso é um subtipo raro do lúpus eritematoso sistêmico, que ocorre ainda de forma mais incomum nos pacientes pediátricos. Relatamos o caso de uma adolescente de 12 anos, apresentando lesões vésico-bolhosas em face, pescoço, tronco, mucosas oral e genital, anemia, leucocitúria estéril, FAN: 1/1280 padrão nuclear pontilhado grosso, Anti-Sm e Anti-RNP positivos. O estudo anatomopatológico sugere dermatite herpetiforme e a imunofluorescência direta revela IgG, IgA e fibrina ao longo da zona de membrana basal. Apresentamos um caso típico de lúpus eritematoso sistêmico bolhoso e enfatizamos a importância do diagnóstico diferencial com a dermatite herpetiforme.

Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus is a rare subset of systemic lupus erythematosus that is even rarer in pediatric patients. We report a case of a 12-year-old girl who presented with a vesiculobullous eruption on her face, neck, trunk and genital and oral mucosa, as well as anemia, sterile pyuria, ANA (1:1280, speckled pattern) and positive anti-Sm and anti-RNP. Pathological examination suggested dermatitis herpetiformis, and direct immunofluorescence revealed IgG, IgA and fibrin in the epithelial basement membrane zone. We present a typical case of bullous systemic lupus erythematosus and emphasize the importance of clinical and histopathological differential diagnosis with dermatitis herpetiformis.

Pênfigo foliáceo endêmico refratário na adolescência: sucesso terapêutico com imunoglobulina intravenosa / Refractory endemic pemphigus foliaceous in adolescence successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin

O Pênfigo Foliáceo Endêmico é doença bolhosa autoimune crônica da pele. Geralmente, o tratamento com prednisona tem excelente resposta, mas existem formas refratárias, sendo necessária terapêutica alternativa. Apresentamos paciente adolescente masculino, com diagnóstico clínico-patológico de pênfigo foliáceo, com forma clínica eritrodérmica grave e refratária a várias terapêuticas, que apresentou evolução satisfatória com imunoglobulina intravenosa. Destaca-se, neste relato, o fato de tratar-se de um paciente adolescente que obteve melhora clínica substancial com imunoglobulina intravenosa e remissão completa da doença, após o quarto ciclo da medicação, possibilitando redução da dose do corticoide e de seus efeitos colaterais.

Endemic Pemphigus Foliaceous is a chronic autoimmune bullous skin disease. Treatment with prednisone often produces excellent results, but resistant forms exist, requiring alternative therapy. Alternative treatments have been used in cases of corticosteroid-refractory pemphigus, showing favorable results. This case study focuses on an adolescent male with a clinical-pathological diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceous with a severe clinical form of erythrodermis, unresponsive to multiple therapies, but which showed a satisfactory outcome with intravenous immunoglobulin. In this case we highlight the fact that the patient was a teenager who showed substantial clinical improvement as the result of using intravenous immunoglobulin, followed by complete remission after the fourth cycle of medication, allowing reduced doses of steroids and a consequent reduction of side effects.

An unusual presentation of leprosy at diagnosis: erythema multiforme-like type 2 reaction

Este estudo descreve um caso de Eritema Multiforme (EM) como a primeira manifestação clínica de Hanseníase (MH) em uma mulher de 35 anos. Quando atendida em um Hospital, a paciente apresentava febre, artralgia, e placas eritematosas em ambos os cotovelos e joelhos bilateralmente, algumas com bolhas e/ou necrose central. O diagnóstico foi confirmado por meio de biópsias de pele, que revelaram um padrão histopatológico compatível com EM, além da presença decélulas de Virchow e bacilos álcool-ácido resistentes (BAAR). Médicos em geral, especialmente os clínicos, devem considerar MH como diagnóstico diferencial de EM, especialmente em regiões endêmicas da doença.

This study describes a case of erythema multiforme (EM) as the first clinical manifestation of leprosy in a 35-year-old woman. She presented at the hospital with fever, arthralgia and erythematous plaques on both elbows and knees, some of them with bullous or necrotic center areas. The diagnosiswas confirmed by skin biopsy, which revealed a well-known EM pattern, and also showed the presence of Virchow cells and acid-fast bacilli. Physicians should be aware that leprosy must beconsidered in the differential diagnosis of EM, especially in endemic regions.

Hepatite C em associação com crioglobulinemia mista. Relato de caso / Hepatitis C virus infection associated with mixed crioglobulinemia. Case report

A relevância deste estudo foi a grande quantidade de pessoas infectadas pelo vírus da hepatite C (HCV) e a alta associação de crioglobulinemia e a HCV, enfatizando a importância da pesquisa de HCV em portadores de crioglobulinemia. Além disso, mostrar que com o tratamento efetivo da infecção pelo HCV, há controle da crioglobulinemia, resolvendo, portanto, a doença cutânea. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo feminino, 57 anos, que apresentou quadro cutâneo na forma de placas eritemato-purpúricas, como sinal da associação entre hepatite C (HCV) e crioglobulinemia. A terapia antiviral com interferon e ribavirina pode ser efetiva no tratamento das manifestações cutâneas, assim como foi observado no presente caso. CONCLUSÃO: Devido à alta prevalência de infectados pelo vírus da hepatite C e a grande associação de crioglobulinemia em portadores de hepatite C, é mandatória a pesquisa do vírus C em pacientes que ainda não tenham a etiologia esclarecida na crioglobulinemia essencial. A presença de vasculite pode levar ao acometimento sistêmico com grande morbidade. Desta forma torna-se necessária a investigação de crioglobulinemia nestes casos, propiciando o diagnóstico precoce e a instituição terapêutica adequada.

Avaliação de série de casos de eritema nodoso hansênico: perfil clínico, base imunológica e tratamento instituído nos serviços de saúde / Erythema nodosum leprosum case series report: clinical profile, immunological basis and treatment implemented in health services

O eritema nodoso hansênico é evento inflamatório agudo no curso crônico da hanseníase. É considerado evento de base imunológica e importante causa de morbidade e incapacidade física. Avaliou-se o perfil clínico, sorológico e histopatológico de 58 pacientes com eritema nodoso hansênico recrutados sequencialmente entre julho-dezembro de 2000, em área urbana hiperendêmica do Brasil Central (Estado de Goiás). A metade dos pacientes apresentava quadro reacional grave, e em 66 por cento dos casos o primeiro episódio reacional ocorreu durante tratamento específico. A maioria dos casos com eritema nodoso hansênico e dos controles apresentaram reatividade para IgM anti-PGL I. Os achados histopatológicos mais freqüentes no eritema nodoso hansênico foram infiltrado neutrofílico, paniculite, vasculite e agressão neural. Dos pacientes com eritema nodoso hansênico, 96 por cento usaram corticosteróide sistêmico no primeiro episódio. Os casos de eritema nodoso hansênico estavam associados à neurite e raramente usaram talidomida como medicação isolada nos serviços de saúde.

Consenso para o laudo anatomopatológico do melanoma cutâneo. Grupo Multicêntrico e Multidisciplinar Brasileiro para Estudo do Melanoma (GBM) / Pathology report consensus for cutaneous melanoma. Brazilian Multicentric and Multidisciplinary Group for the Study of Melanoma (GBM)

Foi realizado um consenso sobre o laudo anatomopatológico a ser recomendado pelo GBM. Para tal foi ministrado um questionário enviado a patologistas com larga experiência em lesões melanocíticas, a fim de que informassem quais itens eram incluídos no exame anatomopatológico de melanomas cutâneos. A maioria dos patologistas concordou que fossem incluídos no laudo de melanoma os seguintes itens: tipo histológico do melanoma, fase de crescimento (radial ou vertical), nível de Clark, profundidade segundo Breslow, índice mitótico, infiltrado inflamatório linfocitário peritumoral, infiltrado linfocitário intratumoral, invasão linfática e sangüínea, invasão perineural, ulceração, regressão, satelitose microscópica, margens cirurgicas. Para o estudo do linfonodo sentinela, embora a maioria dos patologistas que responderam ao questionário não tivesse experiência com a técnica, recomendou-se que ao receber o espécime, o processamento seguisse os padrões estabelecidos na literatura, com cortes semi-seriados de todo o linfonodo, seguido de exame imunoistoquímico quando negativa a pesquisa de micrometástases na coloração de Hematoxilina e Eosina.

Caracterização histopatológica de biópsias de pele de pecientes com hanseníase paucibacilar: lesão única / ?

Fundamentos: A recomendação atual de terapia de dose única com Rifampicina, Ofloxacin e Minociclina (ROM) em pacientes com hanseníase paucibacilar com lesão única (SLPB) vem suscitando questões sobre o diagnóstico e prognóstico deste subgrupo de pacientes. Estudos recentes abordaram principalmente os aspectos clínicos dos SLPB com poucas informações sobre as características histopatológicas das biópsias das lesões de pele nestes pacientes. Objetivos: determinar os padrões histomorfológicos das lesões de pele dos pacientes com hanseníase SLPB, comparando-os com as classificações histopatológicas usuais da hanseníase, entre elas a de Ridley-Jopling. Metodologia: trata-se de estudo multicêntrico conduzido em centros de referências e institutos de pesquisa de três regiôes endêmicas do Brasil: Sudeste, Norte e Centro-Oeste. Critérios de inclusão: pacientes de hanseníase paucibacilar com lesão única, virgens de tratamento específico, sem evidências de envolvimento de troncos nervosos periféricos e baciloscopia negativa. Critérios de exclusão: menores de 07 anos; pacientes grávidas; pacientes HIV positivos e multibacilares. Foram realizados: a) exame clínico dermato-neurológico; b) baciloscopia; c) biópsia de pele (colorações HE e Fite-Faraco); d) teste cutâneo de Mitsuda; e) coleta de sangue para detecção de anticorpos IgM anti-PGL-1 por ELISA. As lesões de pele foram categorizadas em 4 Grupos histomorfológicos levando em conta as características do infiltrado inflamatório e arranjo do mesmo em granulomas bem ou malformados. Foram avaliados a agressão neural e presença de BAAR no exame histopatológico. Realizou-se análise descritiva dos grupos morfológicos estratificado por localidade de origem. Técnicas de análise exploratória foram utilizadas paa avaliar os valores do teste de Mitsuda e da densidade óptica ao anti-PGL-1, considerando a classificação morfológica adotada. Teste de X2 e análise de variância foram aplicados para avaliar diferenças entre freqüências e médias, respectivamente.

Hidroadenite supurativa: relato de caso / Hidradenitis suppurative

A hidroadenite supurativa é um processo inflamatório que acomete as glândulas sudoríparas, particularmente as do grupo das apócrinas.Neste trabalho relatamos um caso com grande extensäo de acometimento, atingindo as regiöes perianal, perineal, interglútea e glútea, com longa evoluçäo (40 anos). O paciente foi submetido à ressecçäo de toda área acometida e a cicatrizaçäo da ferida operatória ocorreu por segunda intençäo, sem uso de enxerto, apresentando no final um bom resultado estético. Apesar de sua extensäo, näo foi necessária a realizaçäo de colostomia derivativa. Enfatiza-se a necessidade de uma investigaçäo histopatológica minuciosa de todo o tecido ressecado pela possibilidade de degeneraçäo maligna associada ao processo, principalmente em se tratando de história de longa evoluçäo.

Criterios citologicos para diagnostico do papilomavirus cervical / Citologic criteria diagnostic of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection

Durante o periodo de outubro de 1989 a dezembro de 1991, foram examinados 3.140 esfregaços citologicos cervico-vaginais,curados pela tecnica de Papanicolaou modificado,sendo que destes, 124 casos (3,95%) apresentaram criterios citologicos superponiveis aos descritos por Schneider para o diagnostico de infecçoes por papilomavirus humano, enquanto outros 34 casos (1,08%) apresentaram concomitancia com alteraçoes displasicas, variando de NIC a NICIII. Os criterios utilizados foram os classicos: coilocitose e disqueratose, e os nao classicos: coilocitose leve, disqueratose leve, hipercromatismo nuclear, BI e/ou multinucleaçao,citoplasma claro, dentre outros. No total, foram observados 158 casos representando 5,03%, que se enquadraram dentro dos criterios acima descritos, sendo ora por infeccao por papilomavirus isolada, outras vezes associada com alteraçoes displasicas (NIC).

Eumicetoma por Madurella grisea: relato de caso / Madurella grisea eumycetoma: presentation of a case

É relatado um caso de micetoma por Madurella griséa de localizaçäo podal em uma mulher do lar. A identificaçäo da amostra foi feita através das características macro e microscópicas do agente em ágar. Sabouraud e através da assimilaçäo de açúcares. Este é o quinto caso de micetoma por Madurella grisea relatado no Brasil