Peripheral nerve destruction is the hallmark of leprosy. Ocular complications form a substantial part of the clinical manifestations but histopathology of nerve destruction within ocular structures has not been shown satisfactorily. The role of protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 in identifying nerve destruction in the ciliary body and posterior ciliary nerves of lepromatous eyes is shown.
Expression of protein gene product 9.5 in lepromatous eyes showing ciliary body nerve damage and a "dying back" phenomenon in the posterior ciliary nerves.
Department of Histopathology and Experiment Pathology, Schieffelin Leprosy Research and Training Center, Karigiri, Vellore District, Tamilnadu, India-632106. oculep@vsnl.com
