[The specific features of the pathological morphology and pathogenesis of scleroma: morphological, histochemical, and electron microscopic studies].

The specific features of the pathological histology of scleroma have been continuously studied at the Pathology Department of the Lvov Medical University since 1945. A total of 1025 biopsy specimens from 656 patients with scleroma were examined. Along with diverse dystrophic and metaplastic changes in the epithelial coverings, which were affected by scleroma, there were its original inflammatory enlargements that were likely to play an active part in the inflammatory process. Abundant formation of fibrous structures in the granulation tissue undoubtedly reflects the protective functioning of an organism. Impaired innervation led not only to ageusia and anosmia in patients with scleroma; loss of nervous communications with the organism is very likely to affect the course of the pathological process to either degree. Electron microscopy provided more evidence for the presence of endobiosis in scleroma and the inability of drugs to affect directly the Frish bacillus due to its secreted mucopolysaccharide the composition of which is little studied.